The Next Century Foundation
British interfaith and conflict resolution charity with controversial funding and normalisation ties
| Next Century Foundation | |
|---|---|
| Type | Registered charity |
| Logo | |
| Founded | |
| Founder(s) | William Morris |
| Dissolved | |
| Registration ID | 1042589 |
| Status | |
| Headquarters | |
| Location | London, England |
| Area served | |
| Services | |
| Registration | |
| Key people | William Morris (Founder & Chairman), Mark Littlewood (Trustee), Vivian Wineman (former Trustee) |
| Website | nextcenturyfoundation.org |
| Remarks | |
The Next Century Foundation (NCF) is a British charity established in 1990 that describes its mission as working for conflict resolution, human rights, and interfaith understanding, primarily in the Middle East and South Asia.[1] The organisation runs dialogue programmes, publishes reports, and organises conferences and delegations, with a particular focus on the 'Israel'-Palestine conflict, Kashmir, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. It claims to bring together conflicting parties in off-the-record settings to foster understanding and practical solutions. Critics argue that the NCF functions as a normalisation platform that launders the image of the Zionist entity by framing it as a legitimate partner in peace dialogues while sidelining Palestinian rights and structural injustices.
The charity has received repeated grants from the Wineman Charitable Trust (including £7,000 in 2025, £5,631 in 2024, £15,500 in 2023 and £6,156 in 2022), as well as support from other Jewish communal donors and interfaith networks. It maintains consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and has organised high-profile events in London, Geneva and elsewhere.[2]
History
The Next Century Foundation was founded in 1990 by William Morris, a British businessman and interfaith activist, initially with a focus on promoting better relations between the West and the Muslim world. It gained charitable status in 1994 (registered number 1042589). Over the following decades the organisation expanded its remit to include track-two diplomacy, youth leadership programmes, and interreligious dialogue initiatives, particularly in conflict zones.[1]
Activities
The NCF organises closed-door roundtables, international conferences, fact-finding delegations, and publications on topics such as religious freedom, minority rights, water security, and post-conflict reconstruction. It has been particularly active on the 'Israel'-Palestine file, hosting meetings that bring together Israeli, Palestinian, and international participants. The charity also runs the International Dialogue Forum and has produced reports on religious tolerance in the Middle East.[2]
Governance
The charity is governed by a small board of trustees. As of the most recent filings:
| Name | Role | Date of appointment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Morris | Chairman & Founder | 1994 (long-standing) | Central figure in all NCF activities |
| Mark Littlewood | Trustee | Not specified | Former Director General, Institute of Economic Affairs |
| Vivian Wineman | Former Trustee | Resigned prior to 2025 | Former President, Board of Deputies of British Jews |
Funding and donors
The NCF has been a regular and significant recipient of grants from the Wineman Charitable Trust, one of its most consistent funders:
2025: £7,000 2024: £5,631 2023: £15,500 2022: £6,156
Cumulative support from the Wineman trust alone exceeds £34,000 in the four-year period 2022–2025. The charity also receives donations from individual supporters, other trusts, and occasional institutional funding.
Contribution to laundering and normalising Zionism
The Next Century Foundation's model of off-the-record dialogue and "bridge-building" between Israeli and Palestinian participants has drawn criticism for contributing to normalisation of the Zionist entity.[3] By presenting the settler colony and its representatives as equal partners in peace-oriented discussions without addressing the structural realities of occupation and apartheid, the NCF's activities help launder the image of the Zionist regime. Reports suggest that such platforms often function as normalisation mechanisms rather than genuine vehicles for justice or Palestinian self-determination.[4]
See also
Vivian Wineman Wineman Charitable Trust United Religions Initiative UK Council of Christians and Jews
External links
Official website Charity Commission page
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Charity Commission, NEXT CENTURY FOUNDATION - 1042589 Charity Commission, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Next Century Foundation, Official website Next Century Foundation, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ Decolonize Palestine, Faithwashing Decolonize Palestine, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ AMP, 'Interfaith' Under Occupation is Normalization, Not Solidarity AMP, December 9, 2017.