The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £342,432 (2024)
• Total Income: £738,751 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales

Contact Details

Registered Address: Manor Farm, Mill Lane, Charlton Mackrell, Somerton, Somerset TA11 7BQ

Alternative Address: Berkeley Law Ltd, 19 Berkeley Street, London, W1J 8ED

Telephone: 01458 223650

Email: Not publicly available

Website: No public website

Overview

The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation is a private grant-making charity established in 1961 and registered with the Charity Commission (charity number 201892). Named after Joseph Aaron Littman (1898-1953), a British property tycoon who pioneered sale and leaseback agreements in the UK property market, the foundation operates as an endowment-funded charity generating its income entirely from investments. With total income of £738,751 and expenditure of £342,432 in 2024, the foundation makes grants to charitable organizations throughout England and Wales. The foundation is connected to the broader Littman family charitable legacy, which includes The Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation, founded by Joseph Aaron Littman's son Louis in memory of his father.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate named grant programs or publicize specific funding tiers. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees.

Priority Areas

The foundation's registered charitable purposes cover:

• Relief of poverty worldwide
• Advancement of knowledge worldwide
• Education and training
• Advancement of health or saving of lives
• Religious activities
• Other charitable purposes

The foundation makes grants exclusively to other registered charities or voluntary bodies operating throughout England and Wales.

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals (grants are only made to organizations)
• Organizations outside England and Wales (based on operational scope)

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by three trustees:

Mrs C Littman - Trustee (appointment date not disclosed)

• Also serves as trustee of The Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation

Joanna Karen Littman - Trustee (appointed 6 April 2017)

• Also serves as trustee of Roby Littman Charitable Foundation

Andrew Graham Rosen - Trustee (appointed 31 May 2023)

The foundation has maintained good compliance with the Charity Commission, with recent reporting generally submitted on time.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees, and there is no advertised application portal, guidelines, or published criteria for funding. The foundation appears to operate on a proactive or invitation-only basis, with trustees identifying and selecting grant recipients based on their own research and networks.

Organizations seeking funding from this foundation would need to establish a relationship with the trustees or be identified through the trustees' own networks and research activities.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a discretionary grant-making foundation, decision timelines are likely to vary based on trustee meeting schedules and individual grant considerations.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation does not publish information about the number of applications received or grants awarded.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

Given the private, discretionary nature of this foundation's grant-making, there are no published success factors or application guidance. However, based on the foundation's characteristics:

Alignment with charitable purposes: Organizations working on poverty relief or advancement of knowledge (particularly in areas relating to education, health, and religious activities) would align with the foundation's stated purposes.

Connection to family legacy: The foundation is part of the Littman family's broader charitable activities, which have a strong connection to Jewish scholarship and culture through The Littman Library of Jewish Civilisation. Organizations with connections to these areas may align with trustee interests.

Operating in England and Wales: The foundation's scope is limited to these jurisdictions.

Registered charity status: Only registered charities or voluntary bodies are eligible for support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this foundation operates on a discretionary, trustee-led model
• Strong family charitable legacy - the foundation is part of a broader network of Littman family charitable activities focused on Jewish scholarship and culture
• Focus on poverty relief and knowledge advancement - these are the core charitable purposes registered with the Charity Commission
• England and Wales only - geographic scope is limited to these jurisdictions
• Modest but consistent grant-making - annual expenditure of approximately £340,000 suggests regular grant-making activity
• Well-endowed foundation - generates all income from investments, indicating financial sustainability
• Relationship-based grant-making - without public application processes, grants likely flow through existing trustee networks and relationships

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Equitable Charity Trust
• The Du Plessis Family Foundation
• THE KENNETH & SUSAN GREEN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
• THE LILI TAPPER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
• The Patrick Rowland Foundation
• Wickens Family Foundation
• MOSTAFAVI FOUNDATION
• The Lockwood Charitable Foundation
• The Macfarlane Family Foundation
• The Freddie Green and Family Charitable Foundation

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, “The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation - Charity 201892,” accessed 8 December 2025, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=201892
• Charity Commission, “What, Who, How, Where - The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation,” accessed 8 December 2025, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/201892/what-who-how-where
• Charity Commission, “Trustees - The Second Joseph Aaron Littman Foundation,” accessed 8 December 2025, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/201892/trustees
• Jewish Virtual Library, “Littman, Joseph Aaron,” accessed 8 December 2025, https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/littman-joseph-aaron
• Liverpool University Press Blog, "What's Next for The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization and LUP?" August 29, 2018, accessed 8 December 2025, https://liverpooluniversitypress.blog/2018/08/29/whats-next-for-the-littman-library-of-jewish-civilization-and-lup/