The Searchlight Electric Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £33,640 (2024-25)
• Total Income: £76,288 (2024-25)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (discretionary grants)
• Grant Range: Not specified
• Geographic Focus: Greater Manchester

Contact Details

Email: dh@searchlightelectric.com

Phone: 0161 203 3300

Address: Sidney House, 900 Oldham Road, Manchester M40 2BS

Overview

The Searchlight Electric Charitable Trust was established in June 1989 as the charitable giving vehicle of Searchlight Electric Limited, a family-owned lighting wholesale business founded in 1945. The trust operates as a discretionary grant-making organization, with trustees having full authority to select charitable causes and recipients according to their judgment. The trust is managed by three members of the Hamburger family, who have a long history of philanthropy in the Greater Manchester area. Sir Sidney Hamburger, the founder of Searchlight Electric, was knighted by the Queen for his services to the National Health Service and charitable work, establishing a family tradition of giving back to the community. The trust focuses its grant-making within the Greater Manchester region, supporting various charitable purposes as determined by the trustees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single discretionary grant programme with no specified grant amounts or fixed funding tiers. Grants are awarded entirely at the discretion of the trustees to registered charities and charitable causes.

Priority Areas

The trust's objects are broadly defined: “To pay or apply capital and income of the trust to such charities or for such charitable purposes as the Trustees may decide.”

Geographic Focus

• Manchester City
• Bolton
• Bury
• Oldham
• Rochdale
• Salford City
• Stockport
• Tameside
• Trafford
• Wigan

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside Greater Manchester area
• Non-charitable purposes
• Individuals (grants to organizations only)

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by three trustees from the Hamburger family:

• Daniel Hamburger - Appointed 22 January 2015
• David Martin Hamburger - Trustee
• Morris Emanuel Hamburger - Trustee

All trustees serve without remuneration. The trust has no employees and operates through trustee decision-making.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded entirely at the discretion of the trustees, who identify and select charitable recipients without soliciting applications from the public. Organizations cannot apply for grants through any formal application process.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than through an application cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

As this trust does not accept public applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. Grant recipients are selected by the trustees based on their personal knowledge and connections within the Greater Manchester charitable sector.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This trust does not accept applications. Recipients are selected by trustees at their discretion
• Family Foundation: Managed by three Hamburger family members reflecting personal philanthropic interests
• Geographic Restriction: All funding focused within Greater Manchester area
• Modest Scale: Annual expenditure of approximately £34,000
• Business Connection: Funded by and connected to Searchlight Electric Limited
• Discretionary Model: Broad charitable objects allow trustees maximum flexibility

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Lord Leverhulme's Charitable Trust
• The Manchester Guardian Society Charitable Trust
• Bathgate Charitable Trust
• MRS WATERHOUSE CHARITABLE TRUST
• Broome Family Charitable Trust
• The Rasche Family Charitable Trust
• The Bowland Charitable Trust
• Brian Wilson Charitable Trust
• The Ken and Edna Morrison Charitable Trust
• The Manackerman Charitable Trust

References

• UK Charity Commission Register of Charities, The Searchlight Electric Charitable Trust (Charity No. 801644). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=801644 []

• UK Charity Commission, Trustee Information for Charity 801644. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/801644/trustees []

• Searchlight Electric Limited, About Us. Available at: https://searchlightelectric.com/en-gb/about-us []

• Financial data from Charity Commission accounts for financial year ending 05 April 2025: Total Income £76,288, Total Expenditure £33,640