The Simon Heller Charitable Settlement
Charity Number: 265405
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Quick Stats
- Registered Charity Number: 265405
- Annual Income: £430,513 (2024)
- Annual Expenditure: £488,667 (2024)
- Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
- Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
- Geographic Focus: UK-based, likely national
- Founded: 1977 (established by deed of settlement dated 16 October 1972)
Contact Details
Address: 24 Bruton Place, London, W1J 6NE
Phone: 020 7415 5000
Website: No public website
Note: This is a private charitable settlement without a public-facing application process.
Overview
The Simon Heller Charitable Settlement was established in 1972 and registered as a charity in 1977. It operates as a private family charitable trust with assets generating approximately £430,000 in annual income (2024). The settlement's primary mission is to support specific projects relating to medical, scientific, and educational research. The charity is governed by Lady Morven Heller and other family trustees, including Andrew Robert Heller and John Heller, alongside corporate trustee W S Trustee Company Limited. The settlement operates as a traditional grant-making charity, distributing funds to organizations aligned with its charitable purposes. The Heller family has a strong philanthropic tradition in the UK, with connections to other charitable foundations including The Michael Heller Charitable Foundation. Following the death of Sir Michael Heller in January 2023, the settlement continues under the stewardship of Lady Morven Heller and the family trustees.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The Simon Heller Charitable Settlement operates through trustee-directed grant making rather than formal grant programs. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to support projects in their priority areas.
Priority Areas
The settlement focuses on three main areas:
- Medical Research: Supporting projects that advance medical knowledge and improve health outcomes
- Scientific Research: Funding scientific inquiry and research initiatives
- Educational Research: Supporting educational development and research projects
The charity also has the flexibility to support:
- General charitable purposes
- Education and training initiatives
- Prevention or relief of poverty
- Arts, culture, heritage, and science
- Advancement of health or saving of lives
What They Don't Fund
As a private charitable settlement with no public application process, the trustees exercise full discretion over grant making. No specific exclusions are publicly documented, though the focus remains primarily on medical, scientific, and educational research projects.
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Governance and Leadership
Trustees
Lady Morven Heller (Appointed: 02 May 2012)
- Senior trustee and decision-maker
- Also trustee of The Michael Heller Charitable Foundation
- Following the death of Sir Michael Heller in 2023, Lady Morven continues to lead the settlement's charitable work
Andrew Robert Heller
- Family trustee
- Also serves as trustee of The Michael Heller Charitable Foundation
John Heller
- Family trustee
W S Trustee Company Limited
- Corporate trustee providing professional trustee services
Governance Structure
No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The settlement operates with no employees, maintaining a lean administrative structure typical of private family foundations. All trustee roles are voluntary, ensuring that charitable funds are directed to beneficiaries rather than administrative costs.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process.
The Simon Heller Charitable Settlement operates as a private family charitable trust where grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than open public applications. The trustees identify and select charitable projects and organizations to support without soliciting applications from the general public. This approach is typical of family settlements where the founding family maintains close involvement in grant-making decisions.
Grants are made to organizations rather than individuals, and beneficiaries are typically identified through:
- Pre-existing relationships with trustees
- Trustee knowledge of organizations working in priority areas
- Invitation-only funding arrangements
Given this structure, unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered.
Decision Timeline
Not applicable - grants are awarded through trustee discretion on a rolling basis rather than through formal application cycles.
Success Rates
Not applicable - no public application process exists.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable - no public application process exists.
Application Success Factors
As this settlement does not accept unsolicited applications, the key factors for receiving funding are:
- Alignment with Priority Areas: Organizations working in medical, scientific, or educational research that align with the trustees' interests are most likely to benefit
- Trustee Connections: Funding flows through relationships and networks known to the trustees
- Organizational Credibility: The settlement supports established charitable organizations rather than individuals
- Research Focus: Projects with clear research objectives in the medical, scientific, or educational fields are the primary focus
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- This is a private charitable settlement that does not accept unsolicited applications from the public
- Grants are awarded through trustee discretion to organizations in medical, scientific, and educational research
- The settlement operates with no public-facing website or application guidelines
- Funding is distributed to organizations, not individuals
- The settlement has distributed approximately £488,000 annually (2024 figures)
- The Heller family trustees maintain close involvement in all grant-making decisions
- Organizations are typically identified through pre-existing relationships and trustee networks rather than open calls for applications
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References
- UK Charity Commission Register, Charity Details for The Simon Heller Charitable Settlement (265405): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/265405
- UK Charity Commission, Trustee Information for Charity 265405: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/265405/trustees
- OpenCharities Database, The Simon Heller Charitable Settlement: http://opencharities.org/charities/265405
- Jewish News, “Passionate philanthropist and business leader Sir Michael Heller passes away, aged 86,”: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/passionate-philanthropist-and-business-leader-sir-michael-heller-passes-away-aged-86/
- Wikipedia, “Michael Heller (businessman),”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Heller_(businessman)