Cathy Wills Charitable Trust

The Cathy Wills Charitable Trust, a UK-registered charitable incorporated organisation established in July 2022, stems from the division of the Cecil and Hilda Lewis Charitable Trust and is chaired by art historian and philanthropist Catherine Wills. Its mission advances public benefit through grants to established charities, emphasising welfare for the elderly, disabled people, and children—particularly women and children—alongside medical research, education, and the visual arts. Guided by Wills' expertise as a collector and patron involved with the Contemporary Art Society and Pangaea Sculptors’ Centre, the Trust blends generalist philanthropy with targeted support for cultural, health, and educational initiatives in the UK and Israel, prioritising impactful projects like scholarships, museum programmes, and welfare services.

It funds project-based work, scholarships (e.g., Cathy Wills Sculpture Scholarship at University of the Arts London), core costs, public art, and capital for institutions, with recent grants totalling £192,085 to reputable arts charities, museums, medical organisations, and welfare providers addressing health, education access, and community needs for vulnerable groups.

Eligible applicants are limited to well-established UK-registered charities and academic institutions operating primarily in the UK or Israel; no income thresholds apply, but medium-to-large organisations with strong governance are favoured. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—grants are trustee-selected via annual family board meetings using personal networks and sector knowledge, with no public deadlines, portals, or processes.

Distinctive for its founder-led approach, artistic networks, and Jewish community ties, the Trust avoids direct services, new/unproven entities, or non-charitable causes, focusing instead on sustainable, high-impact giving within its family philanthropic legacy.