Ruth and Lionel Jacobson Charitable Trust (Second Fund) No 2

The Ruth and Lionel Jacobson Charitable Trust (Second Fund) No 2 is a discreet UK grant-making charity established in memory of Ruth and Lionel Jacobson, managed by two trustees with a mission to alleviate poverty and sickness, advance education and knowledge for all ages, and support medical research through targeted philanthropic grants. Embodying values of compassion, generosity, and commitment to human wellbeing, it adopts a traditional, trustee-led approach prioritizing high-impact institutional support over open calls, focusing on lasting social benefits in health, education, and poverty relief via UK-based charities and academic institutions.

It funds projects, programmes, and institutional efforts in medical research, higher education, public health, and hardship relief, consistently supporting established organizations tackling these core themes—such as major research bodies and universities—without narrow issue-specificity but emphasizing demonstrable societal impact.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities and academic institutions operating UK-wide, with a preference for medium-to-large established entities demonstrating robust governance and alignment with the Trust's objects; small or grassroots groups are not typically supported, and there are no published income thresholds.

Grants range from £10,000 to £40,000, drawn from annual expenditures of £65,000–£80,000 across a few awards, decided privately at trustees' annual meetings with no fixed deadlines or public notifications. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—funding goes to pre-selected beneficiaries via trustees' networks—distinguishing the Trust through its flexible yet focused ethos, avoidance of thematic programmes, and emphasis on substantive, governance-aligned advancements in wellbeing over high-profile or ad hoc initiatives.