The Stanley Cohen Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £724,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom, with emphasis on Jewish charities

Contact Details

Address: Wood Hall, Woodhall Lane, Shenley, Radlett, WD7 9AY

Phone: 01923 289999

Email: Not publicly available

Website: No dedicated website

Charity Commission Registration: 1065470 (Registered November 1997)

Overview

The Stanley Cohen Charitable Trust was established in 1997 by Stanley Cohen OBE and Joy Cohen to support charitable organisations for general charitable purposes. The trust maintains a relatively low public profile, with most recent financial data showing total expenditure of £724,174 against an income of £12,505 in the year ending April 2024, suggesting the trust is distributing from its capital reserves. The trust is governed by four trustees and operates without paid staff. Stanley Cohen OBE and Joy Cohen are known patrons within the UK Jewish community, supporting various Jewish charitable initiatives. The trust notably sponsors the Joy & Stanley Cohen Volunteers' Hall of Fame through the Jewish Volunteering Network, which immortalises outstanding volunteers in the Jewish community.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust makes grants for general charitable purposes. Specific grant programs, amounts, and application deadlines are not publicly disclosed.

Priority Areas

Based on publicly available information, the trust appears to support:

• Jewish community organisations and initiatives
• Volunteering and community engagement programs
• Medical and health-related charities (evidenced by patronage of Shaare Zedek Medical Center)
• General charitable causes

What They Don't Fund

Critical Funding Criterion: The trust has explicitly stated that grants will only be considered to charities whose average fundraising costs do not exceed 25% of funds raised, based on the last two years of audited accounts.

Beyond this efficiency requirement, specific exclusions are not publicly documented.

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Governance and Leadership

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

• Stanley Cohen OBE - Founder and Trustee
• Andrew Cohen - Trustee
• Susan Rubin - Trustee
• One additional trustee (name not publicly disclosed)

Stanley Cohen OBE and his wife Joy Cohen are recognized philanthropists within the UK Jewish community and serve as patrons of Shaare Zedek UK, which supports Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The trust does not maintain a public website or published application guidelines. Prospective applicants should contact the trust directly via telephone at 01923 289999.

Pre-Application Requirements:

• Ensure your charity's average fundraising costs do not exceed 25% of funds raised over the last two audited years
• Have audited accounts available for the previous two years

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Applicants should inquire directly when making contact.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Applicants should inquire directly with the trust.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information available, the following factors can be inferred:

Financial Efficiency is Critical: The trust has explicitly stated they only consider charities with fundraising costs below 25% of funds raised. Ensure your charity meets this threshold before applying and be prepared to demonstrate this with audited accounts.

Jewish Community Connection: The trust's visible philanthropic activities suggest a strong affinity with Jewish community organizations, including volunteering initiatives, medical charities supporting Israel, and community engagement programs.

Direct Personal Contact: Without an online application portal or formal guidelines, building a relationship through direct contact appears to be the primary application route.

Quality over Volume: The trust's financial structure (high expenditure relative to income) suggests they may be making substantial grants from capital reserves rather than processing high volumes of small grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Check the 25% threshold first - This is a non-negotiable requirement. Calculate your charity's average fundraising costs as a percentage of funds raised over the last two years before approaching the trust.

• Jewish community alignment - While the trust supports “general charitable purposes,” their visible activities strongly suggest affinity with Jewish community organizations.

• Prepare for relationship-based grantmaking - Without formal application processes, success likely depends on making direct contact and building a relationship with the trustees.

• Have audited accounts ready - The trust specifically references the need to review two years of audited accounts, so have these prepared before making contact.

• Limited public information - The lack of published guidelines, grant lists, or application procedures suggests a private, discretionary grantmaking approach. Be prepared to clearly articulate your request when making initial contact.

• Substantial grantmaking capacity - With annual expenditure exceeding £700,000, the trust has significant capacity for impactful grants, though individual grant sizes are not publicly disclosed.

• No website or online presence - All contact must be made via telephone or postal mail, suggesting a traditional, personal approach to philanthropy.

References

• UK Charity Commission Register - The Stanley Cohen Charitable Trust (Charity No. 1065470). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1065470 (Accessed: November 2025)

• Jewish Volunteering Network. "The Joy & Stanley Cohen Volunteers' Hall of Fame." Available at: https://www.jvn.org.uk/the-joy-stanley-cohen-volunteers-hall-of-fame-10138.php (Accessed: November 2025)

• Shaare Zedek UK. “Our Patrons.” Available at: https://shaarezedek.org.uk/about-us/our-people/our-patrons/ (Accessed: November 2025)

• JVN Celebration of Volunteering Awards. “Hall of Fame.” Available at: https://jvnawards.org.uk/hall-of-fame/ (Accessed: November 2025)