Kupah Charitable Trust

The Kupah Charitable Trust, established in 1969 and registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, is a discreet grant-making trust rooted in Jewish charitable tradition, led by trustees including Sarah Hinda Weiss and Rabbi Solomon Friedman. Its core mission advances education and training, relieves and prevents poverty, promotes health and saves lives, alleviates disability, and supports religious activities, with a strong emphasis on aiding people of Jewish ethnic or racial origin and bolstering charities or voluntary bodies. Guided by principles of community care, sustainable impact, and dignified support, it prioritizes alleviating hardship for disadvantaged individuals and families through strategic, trustee-driven philanthropy rather than public-facing operations.

The trust funds projects addressing poverty relief, educational access, health interventions, disability support, and religious/community wellbeing, granting to both individuals in need and grassroots organizations delivering frontline services. It favors initiatives in North London—especially Hackney and Haringey—targeting communities with significant Jewish populations, including core costs, welfare programs, and capacity-building for social welfare and faith-based efforts.

Eligible applicants are limited to UK-registered charities and community groups, with a preference for small to medium-sized local entities serving Jewish or disadvantaged communities; there are no strict income thresholds, though it focuses on grassroots operations without formal geographic restrictions beyond practical local emphasis. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—funding occurs by trustee invitation or referral only, with no published forms, deadlines, or rounds; decisions are made ad hoc at periodic board meetings. Typical grants range from £1,000 to £10,000, with annual outlays of £100,000–£300,000.

Distinctively, Kupah avoids open calls, large national charities, or non-aligned activities, embodying over five decades of quiet, network-based impact on Jewish communal welfare in longstanding London settlements.