ROBERT_F._AND_GINA_GOLDHA - Accounts

The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022.

The legal and administrative information page included before the Index page forms part of this report.

The company was incorporated on 11 May 2017 and was registered as a charity on 15 September 2017.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)".

Robert F. and Gina Goldhammer Memorial Foundation Limited is a registered charity.

The objectives of the Charity are such charitable purposes for the public benefit in any part of the world as the Trustees may in their absolute discretion determine, including but without limitation:

(a) The advancement of the Christian religion

(b) The advancement of education

(c) The promotion of the arts, culture and heritage

The Charity will operate as a grant-maker and the Trustees intend primarily to provide grants towards operational charities for the advancement of Christianity, advancement of education and promotion of the arts, culture and heritage (including music). The Trustees also propose to build and manage a sacred outdoor space to introduce people to and educate them about the Christian faith, as well as provide a contemplative and educative experience for children and adults of all backgrounds and faiths.

Charitable expenditure amounted to £123,397 (2021: £61,881) during the year, in addition to this £686,195 was spent in relation to the purchase land and initial stage development of an outdoor worship site in Italy in furtherment of the Charity objectives.  At year end funds were £2,648,895 (2021: £2,442,248). The Charity is dependent on the ongoing support of its trustees and donors.

In 2022 the Charity actively continued to pursue its central founding tenet, to create a sacred outdoor space of prayer, pilgrimage, and contemplation on the site of the medieval Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria Annunziata of Monte Orbieso, situated on a hillside above the historic Valsanzibio gardens in the Veneto. In March 2022, the purchase of the land was completed, design work began in relation to the construction of a 75-foot bronze Crucifixion on the site and architects were consulted and retained.

In light of present and anticipated expenditures relating to: site plan fees and design, and construction of the Crucifixion, the Trustees are satisfied that funds already are and would continue to be made available by the chief donor to the Charity for every stage of the project. A detailed breakdown of these expenses has been considered to the extent possible, and plans have been put in place for periodic reviews as the restoration of the buildings and surrounding land takes shape.

Risk management and reserves policy

The Trustees intend to ensure that any intended expenditure for charitable projects is funded before the commitment is entered into. Additionally, reserves will be maintained to cover expected administrative costs covering a period of not less than 6 months.

Investment powers

In accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association the Charity has the power to invest in such charitable purposes as the Trustees see fit. Surplus funds are invested through a managed account in short term instruments to maintain capital value.

Principal risks and uncertainties

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charitable company is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.

The principal risk is the reliance on a principal donor however no commitments would be entered into without adequate funding in place.

Robert F. and Gina Goldhammer Memorial Foundation is a company limited by shares governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 11 May 2017.

The method of appointment and resignation of trustees is set out in the Articles of Association. This report represents the directors’ report as required by the Companies Act 2006.

The Memorandum and Articles of Association allow for an unlimited number of trustees but a minimum of two.

Trustees may be appointed by ordinary resolution. Appointment of trustees is considered on the basis of the requirements of the Charity and the skills and expertise that each trustee would bring.

Meetings of trustees occur at such frequency as the Trustees consider suitable in the circumstances of the Charity and not less than once a year.

The sole share in the Charity is held by the Trustees of the Robert F. and Gina Goldhammer Memorial Charity (US).

The Trustees' Report was approved by the Board of Trustees. This report represents the Directors' Report required by company law.

The Trustees (who are also the directors for the purpose of company law) are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year. Under that law the Trustees must prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period.

In preparing these accounts, the Trustees are required to:

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and

- prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue to operate.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company'€™s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

For the financial year ended 31 December 2022 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the Charity keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

Robert F. and Gina Goldhammer Memorial Foundation Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Third Floor, 20 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7AN.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019). The Charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The Charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.

The accounts are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements, which are those of Robert F. and Gina Goldhammer Memorial Foundation Limited as an individual entity, have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

The Trustees have received indications of support from the Charity's donors to support its intended activities.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the accounts.

Cash donations and income from fundraising events are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the Charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102) volunteering time is not recognised.

Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred on an accruals basis. Resources expended include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered. Costs of charitable activities include direct expenditure incurred through grants to partners and operational activities together with associated support costs. Grants are recognised in the period in which they are payable. Grants payable in furtherance of the Charity’s objects are attributed to the related classification heading in the SOFA. The costs of raising funds relate to the costs incurred by the charitable company in raising funds for the charitable work. Expenditure is allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity.

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Assets in the course of construction are not depreciated.

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.

At each reporting end date, the Charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any.

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

The Company has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised when the Charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets are offset, with the net amounts presented in the accounts when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets, which include trade and other receivables and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest.

Financial assets classified as other financial assets are stated at fair value with any gains or losses arising on remeasurement recognised in profit or loss. The net gain or loss recognised in profit or loss includes any dividend or interest earned on the financial asset.

Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other payables, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade payables are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the Charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation are included in net income/(expenditure) for the period.

Taxation

Robert F. and Gina Goldhammer Memorial Foundation Limited is a registered charity and therefore is not liable to income tax or corporation tax on income or gains derived from its charitable activities as they fall within the various exemptions available to registered charities.

As the Charity is effectively controlled by a US Charitable Trust this triggers US tax reporting which may in certain circumstances give rise to overseas tax which is provided for as its arises.

In the application of the Charity’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

As set out in more detail in the Trustees Report the charity has purchased land at a medieval monastery in Italy with the intention of undertaking various works including erecting a large bronze Crucifixion so as to create a sacred outdoor space of prayer, pilgrimage and contemplation. The costs of this are shown in fixed assets and stated at cost, less depreciation where applicable to aspects other than land. The nature of the asset, the intended use and the potential restrictions applicable to the use and possible onward sale of the asset mean that the carrying value is difficult to gauge. The Trustees consider that to carry the asset at cost reflects the value to the company in what they hope will be a permanent feature of the landscape. But should the charity be put in a position of having to dispose of the asset there is no certainty it would recover the costs incurred.

Legal and professional

Bank charges

Preliminary works in relation to memorial garden

Exchange gains or losses

Overseas taxes paid

None of the Trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or had any expense reimbursement or benefits from the Charity during the year.

There were no employees during the year.

The carrying value of land included in land and buildings comprises:

The Charity is controlled by the Trustees of the Robert F. and Gina Goldhammer Memorial Charity (US), a charitable trust established in New York, USA, by virtue of its shareholding. That entity is controlled by its trustees and treasurer, who include G Goldhammer.