The Exilarch's Foundation

His inspirational donation will help millions of older people each year by providing information and advice about every aspect of later life, from care and financial support to social activities and ways to get involved in decisions that affect older people’s lives.

Dr Dangoor comes from a prominent Iraqi family. His grandfather, Rabbi Ezra Dangoor, was the Chief Rabbi of Baghdad. Dr Dangoor first came to the UK to study engineering in the 1930s and later returned to Iraq where he built a successful business empire. He was then exiled to the UK in the 1960s following political unrest in Iraq.

The Exilarch’s Foundation was set up by Dr Dangoor in April 1978 as charitable and community work had been an enormous part of his life in the UK. While studying in the UK, Dr Dangoor made a promise to himself that if he were ever to be successful he would give a significant portion of money to support educational causes. He also promised that he would find a way to thank the country that gave his family refuge after escaping Iraq. 

In January 2012, Dr Dangoor was awarded a CBE in recognition of his work providing hands-on and extensive personal support of education and charitable giving. Today, The Exilarch’s Foundation ranks in the top 100 UK charities.

Dr Dangoor is still at the centre of activities of The Exilarch's Foundation. The Foundation has a broad remit, supporting large scale charitable activities that make a significant difference in the community.  Amongst other things, the Foundation supports the dissemination of information and has a particular interest in promoting education in the UK and abroad. 

In Dr Dangoor’s work for education, he has been involved in providing a number of scholarships giving over 4,000 talented students the opportunity to study at some of UK’s leading universities through the establishment of the Eliahou Dangoor Scholarship. The Scholarship was established through a £3 million donation over three years. In addition, the Foundation also supports a number of universities’ scholarships and bursaries throughout the UK, as well as sponsoring two Weizmann Institute symposia.

As well as Dr Dangoor’s involvement in education, he has had a strong involvement in the community through various cultural activities such as the donation of £170,000 to The British Library Learning Project, a donation of £200,000 to The Jewish Museum for their new premises, and a £1 million donation to The Royal Albert Hall of Arts & Sciences.

These, and other acts of philanthropy, represent the realisation of his promise to the UK.