Humanitas

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £221,804 (FY ending September 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: International (Bangladesh, Ghana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Romania, Ukraine) and UK (London, Hertfordshire)

Contact Details

Address: 31 Bucklersbury, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 1BG

Phone: 01462 437712

Email: info@humanitascharity.org

Website: www.humanitascharity.org

For grant/major gift enquiries: joanne@humanitascharity.org

Overview

Humanitas (Charity Number 1114639) was founded in 2012 through the merger of F.R.O.D.O. (Foundation for the Relief of Disabled Orphans) and Romanian Relief, co-founded by Sarah Wade (CEO) and Dr. Ramiz Momeni (Director). Previously also known as LINK (Liberating Institutionalised & Neglected Kids), the organization has evolved from its origins as a grassroots initiative started by gap year volunteers in Romania in 2001. With total expenditure of £221,804 in FY2024 and income of £172,535, Humanitas operates both as a grant-making organization and through direct project delivery. The Charity Commission confirms that “the main way this charity carries out its purposes is through grant making,” supporting grassroots organizations while also running their own humanitarian programs. The charity's mission is to promote and advance charitable giving for communities worldwide, with particular focus on providing healthcare, education, and family support to vulnerable populations in crisis regions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Humanitas does not operate a public grant application process. Their grant-making is conducted through trustee discretion, supporting grassroots organizations identified through their networks and field work. The charity describes their approach as supporting “grassroots projects and groups with the aim of relieving the burden of charity costs and administration, and increasing the flow of funds to the work on the ground.”

All funds are allocated on a needs basis to projects within their strategic focus areas.

Priority Areas

Beneficiary Groups:

• Economically disadvantaged children
• Disabled orphans
• Vulnerable families
• Communities in extreme poverty or crisis

Charitable Purposes:

• General Charitable Purposes
• Education and Training
• Advancement of Health or Saving of Lives
• Disability Support
• Prevention or Relief of Poverty
• Overseas Aid/Famine Relief
• Religious Activities
• Arts/Culture/Heritage/Science

Core Focus Areas:

• Crisis Response - Emergency humanitarian assistance
• Healthcare - Medical services in underserved areas including foster care support
• Education - School programs, literacy initiatives, and vocational training
• Community Support - Local development programs
• Environment - Sustainable farming and conservation projects
• Vocational Training - Skills development programs
• Family Support - Assistance for vulnerable families including post-adoption support

Geographic Priorities

International: Bangladesh, Ghana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Romania, Ukraine

UK: London and Hertfordshire

The charity emphasizes work in “refugee camps, conflict zones, border regions, makeshift hospitals, and schools.”

What They Don't Fund

Information not publicly available, though their focus is clearly on humanitarian aid in crisis regions and support for vulnerable children and families.

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Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

Sarah Wade - CEO and Co-Founder

Sarah became CEO of F.R.O.D.O. in 2012 and co-founded Humanitas charity through the merger with Romanian Relief. She has been featured in BBC and ITV documentaries for her humanitarian work. Sarah has been involved in Romanian relief work since before the 2012 merger.

Dr. Ramiz Momeni - Director and Co-Founder

Joined as Director in 2003 with Sarah and Romanian Relief. In 2012 he co-founded Humanitas charity and has been instrumental in implementing international medical projects.

Trustees

Graeme

Works in the neurological division of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices. He first encountered Humanitas through an association with the Hydrocephalus advocacy group in the UK.

Laura

Former Marketing Manager based in New York and London, now a Yoga Sports Coach in Cambridge. Laura has been actively fundraising to improve the lives of Romanian orphans since 2008.

Governance Structure:

• 3 trustees total
• 10 volunteers
• No employees receiving benefits over £60,000
• At least one trustee receives payments for services provided to the organization
• Registered as a charitable company (Company Number: 05761174)

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Humanitas does not have a public application process. The charity operates primarily through trustee discretion and supports organizations and projects they identify through their field work and existing networks. According to the Charity Commission, grant-making is the main way they carry out their charitable purposes, but these grants appear to be awarded proactively rather than through open application.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since Humanitas does not accept unsolicited applications, this section focuses on their documented approach to charitable work:

Organizational Philosophy:

• Humanitas describes itself as a “grassroots organisation” with emphasis on “direct engagement with communities in need”
• They prioritize “resource deployment over marketing,” stating they “focus our time and effort on projects rather than elaborate marketing”
• The charity takes an integrated approach, emphasizing that "one size doesn't fit all" in addressing humanitarian challenges
• They aim to support grassroots organizations by “relieving the burden of charity costs and administration, and increasing the flow of funds to the work on the ground”

Geographic and Thematic Focus:

• Projects must align with their core areas: crisis response, healthcare, education, community support, environment, vocational training, and family support
• Strong preference for work in regions experiencing extreme poverty or crisis
• Historical focus on Romania and Ghana, though they operate across eight countries
• Support for institutionalized and neglected children remains a founding priority

Partnership Model:

• The charity both runs direct projects and supports other grassroots organizations
• They appear to identify partners through field presence and networks rather than applications
• All donations go into a general fund and are “allocated to projects on a needs basis”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Applications: Humanitas does not accept unsolicited grant applications - their funding decisions are made at trustee discretion
• Hybrid Model: While classified as primarily grant-making by the Charity Commission, they also run direct humanitarian projects in crisis regions
• Grassroots Focus: The organization emphasizes supporting grassroots projects and reducing administrative burden for frontline organizations
• Geographic Specialization: Strong historical presence in Romania and Ghana, with expansion to crisis regions including Ukraine, Haiti, and occupied Palestinian territories
• Needs-Based Allocation: All funding is allocated based on assessed need rather than competitive application processes
• Relationship-Driven: Funding appears to flow to organizations within their existing networks and those they encounter through field work
• Contact for Major Gifts: Organizations interested in partnership or those making major gifts should contact joanne@humanitascharity.org

References

• Charity Commission - Humanitas Full Details -
• Charity Commission - Humanitas Overview -
• Humanitas Charity Website - About Us -
• Humanitas Charity Website - Home -
• Humanitas Charity - Contact Information -
• Companies House - Humanitas Charity -
• Fundraising Regulator - Humanitas Charity -
• Find That Charity - Humanitas -
• NextEnergy Foundation - Humanitas Solar Project -