Cecil and Hilda Lewis Charitable Trust

The Cecil and Hilda Lewis Charitable Trust is a UK-based grant-making charity founded by philanthropists Cecil and Hilda Lewis, whose intellectual curiosity and family stewardship continue to guide its mission of advancing welfare for the elderly, disabled people, and children in need, while supporting education, arts, culture, and scientific research. Rooted in a commitment to vulnerable groups and long-term societal impact, the Trust emphasises thoughtful, strategic philanthropy through high-impact projects, endowments, and partnerships, blending immediate social welfare with enduring knowledge creation, as seen in its named professorial chairs and laboratory support.

It prioritises charities delivering direct services for older adults (e.g., Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society), people with disabilities or mental health challenges (e.g., Mind), at-risk children and families (e.g., Refuge, Women’s Aid), alongside educational initiatives, arts access, and scientific advancement, particularly at institutions like Israel’s Weizmann Institute. Funding supports frontline welfare, research innovation, core costs, capacity building, capital projects, and endowments, targeting outcomes like improved wellbeing, opportunity, and breakthroughs in health and science.

Eligible applicants are limited to UK-registered charities and academic institutions, with a preference for medium-to-large, established organisations demonstrating strong track records; small grassroots groups are rarely funded, and there are no strict income thresholds or geographic base requirements, though grants focus primarily on UK (especially England) projects with select international support for Israel-based science and education. The Trust does not accept unsolicited applications—grants are awarded proactively at trustee discretion, with no open process, forms, deadlines, or published meetings. Typical grants range from £10,000–£100,000 for UK charities, scaling to hundreds of thousands for major endowments. Distinctive for its rejection of open calls in favour of trustee-led, multi-year commitments to proven, mission-aligned leaders in welfare and excellence-driven fields.