The Phillips And Rubens Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £233,379 (year ending March 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (historical grants range from £5,000 to £106,750 over multi-year periods)
• Geographic Focus: UK and overseas, predominantly Jewish causes

Contact Details

Address: 67-69 George Street, London W1U 8LT

Phone: 020 7487 5757

Email: psphillips@aol.com

Website: None

Overview

The Phillips and Rubens Charitable Trust (formerly known as the Ruth and Michael Phillips Charitable Trust) was established in 1969 by London accountant Michael Phillips and his wife Ruth, and was amended in 2005. The Trust is a family-based grant-making foundation supporting a range of charitable causes in the UK and overseas, with grants predominantly provided for Jewish causes. As of the financial year ending March 31, 2024, the Trust had a total income of £436,209 and total expenditure of £482,083, with £233,379 distributed in grants to a wide variety of charities. The Trust operates with three trustees who receive no remuneration or benefits from the charity. Michael Phillips was a partner in the accountancy firm Hacker, Rubens, Phillips & Young at the time the Trust was established.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates a single grant program with no fixed deadlines. Applications are accepted at any time in writing. No specific grant size limits are publicly disclosed, though historical grants have ranged from £5,000 to substantial multi-year commitments exceeding £100,000.

Priority Areas

The trustees receive and evaluate applications from charitable institutions in the following areas:

• Medical services and medical research - Including health charities and research institutions
• Education - Educational institutions and programs
• Support for disabled people - Organizations helping people with disabilities
• Support for the elderly - Services and accommodation for older people
• Poverty relief - Organizations working to alleviate poverty
• Sheltered accommodation - Housing support projects
• Arts and culture - Arts development and cultural organizations
• Jewish causes - Predominantly funded, including organizations such as the United Jewish Israel Appeal

The Trust supports registered charities, community groups, and in some cases, individuals.

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated in publicly available information. Given the broad charitable purposes, exclusions are likely determined on a case-by-case basis by the trustees.

Ready to write a winning application for The Phillips And Rubens Charitable Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save hours and increase your success rate.

Learn more >

Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by three trustees who maintain a gender-balanced board. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Trust has no employees earning over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries.

The founding trustees were Michael Phillips, a London accountant and partner at Hacker, Rubens, Phillips & Young, and his wife Ruth Phillips. Current trustee names are not publicly disclosed in readily available sources.

How to Apply to The Phillips And Rubens Charitable Trust

How to Apply

Applications may be made at any time in writing to:

The Phillips and Rubens Charitable Trust

67-69 George Street

London W1U 8LT

Applications can be sent by:

• Email: psphillips@aol.com
• Phone enquiries: 020 7487 5757

The Trust does not have a website or online application portal. Written applications should include details about your organization and the specific funding need.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the rolling application process, it is advisable to allow adequate time for trustee review and decision-making.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. The Trust distributed £233,379 to “a wide variety of charities” in the year ending March 2024, suggesting they support multiple organizations rather than concentrating funds on a few large grants.

Reapplication Policy

No public information is available regarding reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

While the Trust does not publish specific guidance for applicants, the following factors emerge from available information:

• Alignment with Jewish causes: The Trust has a documented preference for funding Jewish charitable organizations, with significant historical support to organizations such as the United Jewish Israel Appeal (£106,750 over two years to April 2009)

• Broad charitable purposes: Despite the Jewish focus, the Trust has funded diverse causes including the Centre for Social Cohesion (£5,000 in 2008/9) and Civitas (£10,000), demonstrating openness to non-Jewish charitable work

• Clear charitable purpose: Applications from institutions engaged in medical services, education, disability support, elderly care, poverty relief, sheltered accommodation, and arts development appear well-aligned with trustee priorities

• Written applications: The Trust's preference for written applications suggests they value thorough documentation and clear articulation of charitable purposes

• Accessible to various organization types: The Trust accepts applications from registered charities, community groups, and individuals, indicating flexibility in the types of organizations they support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Jewish causes receive priority: While the Trust supports diverse charitable work, grants are “predominantly provided for Jewish causes” - Jewish organizations should emphasize this alignment

• No website or formal guidelines: The absence of a website means there are no published criteria to follow; applications rely entirely on clear written communication

• Rolling applications accepted: Apply at any time rather than waiting for specific deadlines, allowing flexibility in timing

• Wide thematic scope: Medical, educational, disability, elderly care, poverty relief, sheltered accommodation, and arts causes are all within scope

• Family trust approach: As a family-based trust, decision-making is likely personal and discretionary rather than formula-driven

• Contact directly for guidance: With limited public information, emailing psphillips@aol.com or calling 020 7487 5757 to discuss your project before applying may be beneficial

• Modest but meaningful grants: With total annual giving of approximately £233,000 distributed to “a wide variety” of charities, expect modest grants rather than large awards

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Hamilton Wallace Trust
• J E Posnansky Charitable Trust
• Magen Charitable Trust
• The Amar Family Charitable Trust
• The Mintz Family Foundations Trust
• Peter Dixon Charitable Trust
• Mcgreevy No 5 Settlement
• Ahavas Chesed Trust
• The Esher House Charitable Trust
• The Northwick Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, “The Phillips and Rubens Charitable Trust - 260378,”, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/260378

• Bath and North East Somerset Council, “The Phillips and Rubens Charitable Trust,”, https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/node/88978

• Powerbase, "The Phillips & Rubens Charitable Trust,", https://powerbase.info/index.php/The_Phillips_&_Rubens_Charitable_Trust

• Charity Commission financial data for financial year ending March 31, 2024: Total income £436,209, total expenditure £482,083, grants made £233,379