The Sobell Foundation was established in 1977 by the late Sir Michael Sobell, who remained actively involved in its work until shortly before his death in 1993.
The Foundation exists to support charitable organisations that make a real difference to people’s lives. Our governing document allows Trustees to apply funds where they are most needed, ensuring our grant-making remains responsive to changing social needs.
We are not a fundraising organisation. All our grants are funded through the income generated by our investments.
Guided by the founder’s philanthropic vision, we support charities working with:
We aim to support practical, well-managed organisations that deliver meaningful impact. Our Trustees value clear evidence of need, effective leadership and measurable outcomes.
We focus our funding in England, Wales and Israel.
In the UK, we support both Jewish and non-Jewish charities. In Israel, our funding extends to organisations serving all communities, including projects that promote co-existence and inclusion.
Please note that we are currently only accepting applications from charities that have received a grant from The Sobell Foundation within the past five years.
Multi-year grants that commenced more than five years ago (i.e. before 2020) are not considered a qualifying recent grant, even if an instalment has been paid within the last five years.
Charities that have never received a grant from us are not eligible to apply.