Simon Heller Charitable Settlement

The Simon Heller Charitable Settlement, established in 1977 as a family-linked trust, is a low-profile philanthropic entity governed by long-standing Heller family trustees, including Lady Morven Heller and others, dedicated to advancing medical, scientific, and educational research. Its core mission emphasizes rigorous academic inquiry with tangible impacts on health, science, and knowledge advancement, primarily through universities and research institutions, reflecting a strategic, considered approach rooted in familial stewardship and an endowment-managed portfolio.

It funds targeted project grants for defined research initiatives, capital support for buildings and facilities, and direct sponsorship of academic studies, focusing on medical research as a recurring priority alongside broader science, education, health advancement, and poverty relief through institutional channels. Beneficiaries are established universities, research institutes, and health charities conducting applied research, with recent grants supporting research-driven organizations across England and Wales.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities or academic institutions based in England and Wales; the Settlement is invite-only, with trustees proactively identifying and approaching pre-selected medium-to-large organizations exhibiting substantial research capacity—no unsolicited applications, forms, or deadlines exist, and decisions occur ad hoc via trustee meetings.

Grants typically range from £50,000 to £200,000, with annual expenditure of £250,000–£450,000. It excludes individuals, core/unrestricted funding, emergency relief, and non-institutional activities, distinguishing itself through its narrow research focus, institutional exclusivity, and unwavering alignment to founding priorities for high-impact, multi-year projects.