The Raphael Freshwater Memorial Association

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £11,982,000 (expenditure, FY 2024)
• Charitable Grants: £5,970,000 (FY 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Great Britain and abroad

Contact Details

Address: 158-162 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8HR

Phone: 020 7836 1555

Website: No public website

Email: Not publicly available

Note: No public grant application portal or pre-application process is advertised

Overview

The Raphael Freshwater Memorial Association (Charity Number 313890) was incorporated on 28 March 1961 as a private company limited by guarantee. The charity promotes religious education and observance within the tenets of Orthodox Judaism and is involved in the relief of poverty. With an annual expenditure of approximately £12 million (FY 2024), the charity makes grants to organisations and institutions operating in these charitable fields, supporting educational and religious institutions both in Great Britain and abroad. The charity is primarily funded through investment income (£9.36 million in FY 2024) and donations (£1.25 million), though it experienced investment losses of £1.63 million in the most recent financial year. The organization operates through a small board of four trustees, none of whom receive remuneration.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity does not advertise specific grant programs or publicly disclose individual grant amounts. Grant-making activity is focused exclusively on:

Orthodox Jewish Religious Education and Poverty Relief

• Supports educational and religious institutions
• Geographic scope: Great Britain and internationally
• Application method: Not publicly advertised; likely relationship-based or invitation-only

Priority Areas

• Religious education within the tenets of Orthodox Judaism
• Religious observance and practice in Orthodox Jewish communities
• Relief of poverty within these communities
• Support for educational institutions aligned with Orthodox Jewish values
• Support for religious institutions both domestically and internationally

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, given the highly specific focus on Orthodox Judaism, the charity would not fund:

• Organizations outside the Orthodox Jewish faith tradition
• Secular educational institutions unconnected to Orthodox Judaism
• General poverty relief unconnected to the Orthodox Jewish community
• Individual applications (grants appear to be institutional only)

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Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by four trustees who serve without remuneration:

Trustees:

• Richard Fischer - Trustee since 23 January 2014; also involved with Highcroft Charitable Trust and Mayfair Charities Limited
• Solomon Israel Freshwater - Also involved with Zichron Chaim Limited, Service to the Aged, Mayfair Charities Limited, and Sassov Beis Hamedrash
• Benzion Schalom Eliezer Freshwater - Extensive involvement across multiple charities including Parsha Limited, Sassov Beis Hamedrash, Beth Jacob Grammar School for Girls Limited
• Mr D Davis - Also involved with Beth Jacob Grammar School for Girls Limited, Mayfair Charities Limited, Vendquot Limited, and Regent Charities Limited

The trustees have extensive connections across the Orthodox Jewish charitable sector, suggesting that grant-making decisions may be informed by deep knowledge of community needs and institutional relationships.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

No public application process is advertised. The charity does not maintain a public website or published grant application guidelines. Organizations seeking funding would need to:

• Contact the charity directly by phone (020 7836 1555) or in writing to their registered address
• Establish a relationship with the trustees or affiliated organizations
• Demonstrate clear alignment with Orthodox Jewish religious education and poverty relief objectives

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Given the absence of a public application process, the charity likely operates through proactive grant-making or invitation-only applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information, the following factors appear critical for potential applicants:

• Clear Orthodox Jewish identity: The charity has a highly specific mission focused on Orthodox Judaism. Organizations must demonstrate authentic alignment with Orthodox Jewish values and practice.

• Institutional credibility: The trustees' extensive involvement with established Jewish educational and religious institutions suggests they prioritize well-established organizations with proven track records.

• Educational or poverty relief focus: Projects must clearly fall within the charitable purposes of religious education/observance or poverty relief.

• Relationship-based approach: The absence of a public application process suggests that grants may flow through established networks and relationships within the Orthodox Jewish community.

• Geographic flexibility: The charity supports institutions both in Great Britain and internationally, so location is less important than mission alignment.

• Institutional rather than individual support: The charity makes grants to organizations and institutions, not individuals.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This charity does not operate a public grant application process - relationship-building and direct contact are essential
• The funding focus is exclusively on Orthodox Jewish religious education and poverty relief
• With £12 million in annual expenditure and nearly £6 million in charitable grants, this is a significant funder within its niche
• Trustees have deep connections across Orthodox Jewish charities, suggesting insider knowledge is valuable
• No website or published guidelines means prospective applicants must make direct contact via phone or post
• The charity's financial strength comes primarily from investments rather than donations
• Organizations seeking funding should prepare to articulate clear alignment with Orthodox Jewish values and demonstrate institutional credibility

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities. “The Raphael Freshwater Memorial Association - Charity Overview.” Charity Number 313890. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=313890&subid=0 (Accessed: 2 October 2025)

• Charity Commission Register of Charities. “The Raphael Freshwater Memorial Association - Trustees.” Charity Number 313890. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/313890/trustees (Accessed: 2 October 2025)

• Companies House. “Raphael Freshwater Memorial Association Limited (The) - Company Overview.” Company Number 00688212. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00688212 (Accessed: 2 October 2025)

• Charity Choice. “Raphael Freshwater Memorial Association.” https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-raphael-freshwater-memorial-association-130677 (Accessed: 2 October 2025)