Benson and Lionel Black Charitable Trust

The Benson and Lionel Black Charitable Trust, established in 1997 as the successor to a 1976 family trust founded by Mrs Hetty Black, is a Manchester-based, family-led grantmaker with trustees from the Black family and associates. Rooted in the family's philanthropic legacy from businesses like Risol Imports and Regatta Limited, it distributes income to support charitable purposes determined by trustees, emphasizing Jewish community welfare in England and Wales alongside broader UK societal benefits. Its values center on family stewardship, public good per Charity Commission guidance, flexible discretion, and sustaining established charities through collaborative, trust-based partnerships, with minimal reserves to ensure proportionate, long-term giving.

The trust prioritizes grants to Jewish educational, religious, and welfare organizations, particularly in Greater Manchester, including bodies like BICOM, while occasionally supporting general education, training, and other charities benefiting the wider public. Funding enables core costs, running expenses, programme delivery, or specific purposes for established small- to medium-sized groups, focusing on sustaining ongoing community services rather than new projects or direct delivery.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities operating in England and Wales, with strong preference for those aligned with Black family networks, Jewish communal values, and proven track records; no formal income limits apply, but it favors reputable entities. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—grants go to trustee-selected organizations via invite-only discretion.

Typical grants range from £5,000 to £25,000, awarded adhoc at irregular trustee meetings without fixed deadlines. Distinctively, its multi-generational family oversight and quiet, consistent backing of Manchester's Jewish sector set it apart, excluding unaligned or unproven causes in practice.