Issa Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Organisations that are not registered charities in their own country should not apply, because grants go only to registered charities.
- Work on education, healthcare, employment or humanitarian projects that support disadvantaged communities fits the foundation's stated aims, and India, Malawi and the United Kingdom are named as priority areas.
- About 8 in 10 of its 14 grants to organisations fall between £8,900 and £775,000, with a median of £40,000, so a request in that typical range is a sensible starting point, though the largest grant was about £1,500,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and a sub-committee reviews each one and advises the trustees on funding level, so a clear case for the project's merits matters, and organisations should expect rigorous vetting before any support is given.
Overview
Issa Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1166025).
The Issa Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1166025). Its principal objects are to advance the education, health and employment of people in need, particularly disadvantaged communities, by supporting projects that address these issues. It invites proposals from registered charitable organisations delivering humanitarian projects, and its annual report gives annual giving of £3,557,829.
What they fund
Profile based on the charity's Charity Commission register entry and annual report (year to 31 December 2024) only. Every statement is checked against them. Sources read on 30 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation invites proposals from registered charitable organisations delivering humanitarian projects that support communities, particularly those serving disadvantaged groups. It awards grants exclusively to organisations that are registered charities within their respective countries, and each organisation undergoes a rigorous vetting process before receiving support. Its core mission is to advance education, healthcare and employment opportunities for people in need, with particular focus on disadvantaged communities, while remaining open to other impactful projects identified and approved by the trustees. Its approach combines direct humanitarian aid, including food, clean water, medical care and emergency shelter, with longer-term development intended to help communities become self-sufficient and resilient.
Themes
- Humanitarian projects
- Education
- Healthcare
- Employment
Geographic Focus
Priority: India; Malawi; the United Kingdom.
What they don't fund
- Organisations that are not registered charities within their respective countries
How to apply
Registered charitable organisations may submit proposals for humanitarian projects supporting communities, particularly disadvantaged groups. A dedicated sub-committee reviews each proposal, evaluates the project's merits and advises the trustees on the appropriate funding level.
Who can apply:
- Proposals are invited from registered charitable organisations delivering humanitarian projects that support communities, particularly those serving disadvantaged groups.
- Grants are awarded exclusively to organisations that are registered charities within their respective countries.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- Charitable organisations undergo rigorous vetting before receiving support.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- India
- Malawi
- United Kingdom
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Issa Foundation.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 14 grants in year to 31 December 2024 by size
Median £52,096 (year to 31 December 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in this funder’s latest annual report:
- Malawi Relief Fund UK£1,516,099year to 31 December 2024
- Markazul Ma'arif£774,943year to 31 December 2024
- Munshi Trust£653,379year to 31 December 2024
- Hakim-ul-Islam Academy Society£258,360year to 31 December 2024
- Valli Charitable Trust£73,585year to 31 December 2024
- Blackburn Markaz£67,338year to 31 December 2024
- Darul Hijaz Yatama£64,192year to 31 December 2024
- Dog Ranch£40,000year to 31 December 2024
Grant examples taken from the funder’s filed accounts. Not included above: 1 with no named recipient.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2020 | £894,671 | £7,408,730 | — | Accounts for year to 31 December 2020 |
| year to 31 December 2021 | £10,719 | £6,730,966 | — | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £4,012,878 | £7,937,817 | — | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £7,650,924 | £4,223,338 | £3,974,348 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £9,911,028 | £3,985,350 | £3,557,829 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 2 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2023: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2024: the accounts do not say whether this is grants awarded or paid.
— No grants figure for those years.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- impala-heron-jh7z.squarespace.com/s/Privacy-Policy-OC.pdf · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2024)
This profile rests on the charity’s filed accounts and register entry only, so check with the funder directly before applying.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to Issa Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Issa Foundation, Waterside Head Office, Haslingden Road, Guide, Blackburn, Lancashire, United Kingdom, BB1 2FAsource
- impala-heron-jh7z.squarespace.com/s/Privacy-Policy-OC.pdf
Applying to Issa Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Issa Foundation, Waterside Head Office, Haslingden Road, Guide, Blackburn, Lancashire, United Kingdom, BB1 2FAsource
- impala-heron-jh7z.squarespace.com/s/Privacy-Policy-OC.pdf