LUMOS FOUNDATION
Lumos works to transform the lives of disadvantaged children by facilitating the end of institutional care for good. It does this in two ways:At a policy level to accelerate and improve the quality of reform in health, education and social protection servicesAt a practical level working with providers of children's services to demonstrate the value of family-based care
Objects
3.1 THE RELIEF OF POVERTY AND SICKNESS, THE PROMOTION OF EDUCATION, THE PROMOTION OF CHILD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO OR MALTREATMENT OF CHILDREN IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD; AND3.2 SUCH OTHER EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE OBJECTS AS THE TRUSTEES OF THE CHARITY MAY IN THEIR ABSOLUTE DISCRETION DETERMINE.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that free reserves were at the lower end of the target range established by the Trustees, with unrestricted reserves excluding tangible fixed assets standing at £1.28m against a target of £1.20m to £2.70m. The organisation recorded a planned unrestricted deficit of £2.41m, drawing on reserves to sustain programme delivery during a period of heightened global need. However, the Trustees maintain a reasonable expectation that the charity will continue to operate as a going concern for at least 12 months from the approval of the statements.
What the accounts disclose
“The Trustees have set a target level of unrestricted reserves equivalent to 3–6 months of operating expenditure” — page 27
“Lumos Foundation USA Inc. provided a grant to Lumos Foundation of £384k (2024: £nil).” — page 39
“During the year, Lumos Foundation charged administrative expenses to Lumos Foundation Operations Limited totalling £3k (2024: £nil).”
“Lumos Foundation USA Inc. provided a grant to Lumos Foundation of £384k (2024: £nil).” — page 39
“During the year, Lumos Foundation charged administrative expenses to Lumos Foundation Operations Limited totalling £3k (2024: £nil).”
“Lumos Foundation Operations Limited was incorporated as a private company limited by shares on 18 December 2019 (England and Wales). Its sole member and thus its parent company is Lumos Foundation. Lumos Foundation Operations Limited operates as a trading entity for Lumos Foundation” — page 29
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Investment
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025
- Employees paid over £60,000: 10 (£60,001–£70,000: 3; £70,001–£80,000: 2; £80,001–£90,000: 2; £90,001–£100,000: 2; £150,001–£200,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024
- Employees paid over £60,000: 8 (£60,001–£70,000: 6; £70,001–£80,000: 1; £110,001–£120,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023
- Employees paid over £60,000: 7 (£60,001–£70,000: 2; £70,001–£80,000: 2; £80,001–£90,000: 1; £90,001–£100,000: 1; £120,001–£130,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
In the news
- Eddie Redmayne talks up Lumos Foundation fundraiser for children
- Complete set of signed Harry Potter first editions to benefit the Lumos Foundation, offered by Aurora Pedro Pinto, CEO of one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, Livraria Lello, Porto, Portugal,in Christie’s Valuable Books and Manuscripts Auction - Christie's
- J.K. Rowling’s Lumos Foundation
- Joanne Rowling’s Lumos Foundation to reform orphanages in Ukraine
- Bonnie Wright Tweets Support for Lumos Foundation
- Ten Years Later: Lumos Foundation’s Push into Global Child Welfare
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- J.K. Rowling — Founder
- Eugenia Godoroja — Head of Child and Youth Participation
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Trustees
- Kenneth Ian Towlechair
- Dr Doreen Mulenga
- Elizabeth Lule
- Keith Schilling
- Neal Gandhi
- Rosanna Burcheri
- Sophie Bridge
- USMAN ALI
- Zahed Kamathia
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £5.0m | £7.1m |
| 31/12/2024 | £5.7m | £6.5m |
| 31/12/2023 | £7.9m | £5.0m |
| 31/12/2022 | £7.1m | £7.4m |
| 31/12/2021 | £4.9m | £8.2m |
Common questions
Is LUMOS FOUNDATION financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that free reserves were at the lower end of the target range established by the Trustees, with unrestricted reserves excluding tangible fixed assets standing at £1.28m against a target of £1.20m to £2.70m. The organisation recorded a planned unrestricted deficit of £2.41m, drawing on reserves to sustain programme delivery during a period of heightened global need. However, the Trustees maintain a reasonable expectation that the charity will continue to operate as a going concern for at least 12 months from the approval of the statements. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Saffery LLP.
Who funds LUMOS FOUNDATION?
Funders whose own accounts filings name LUMOS FOUNDATION as a grant recipient include THE FYRISH FOUNDATION, THE JIGSAW NETWORK C.I.O., THE LOWER GREEN FOUNDATION, GOWLING WLG (UK) CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE FYRISH FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £314k | |
| THE JIGSAW NETWORK C.I.O. | FY2021 | £50k | |
| THE JIGSAW NETWORK C.I.O. | FY2023 | £50k | |
| THE LOWER GREEN FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £8k | |
| THE LOWER GREEN FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £1k | |
| GOWLING WLG (UK) CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £1k | |
| GOWLING WLG (UK) CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £500 |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| STARLOW CHARITIES LIMITED | 1 | £106k |
| THE CHILDHOOD TRUST | 1 | £88k |
| HACKNEY PAROCHIAL CHARITIES | 1 | £22k |
| KUSUMA TRUST UK | 1 | £20k |
| TALLOW CHANDLERS BENEVOLENT FUND NO 2 | 1 | £8k |
| CHARITIES OF THOMAS WADE AND OTHERS | 1 | £5k |
| THE REGAL TRUST LIMITED | 1 | £5k |
| THE CARMELA & RONNIE PIGNATELLI FOUNDATION | 1 | £5k |
Charities like this
- BLOSSOMS LONDON LTD
- LIGHTHOUSE FUTURES TRUST
- THE RUMI FOUNDATION
- LUMULE FOUNDATION
- Luma Foundation
- BLOSS FAMILY FOUNDATION
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LUMOS FOUNDATION | £5.0m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| BLOSSOMS LONDON LTD | £190k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| LIGHTHOUSE FUTURES TRUST | £1.8m | — | — | below | — | no doubt |
| THE RUMI FOUNDATION | £8.0m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| LUMULE FOUNDATION | £171k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| Luma Foundation | £166k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |