Sabeel Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £197,729 in institutional grants (2024)
• Total Income: £820,412 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable - no public application process
• Decision Time: Unknown - discretionary grantmaking
• Grant Range: Unknown
• Geographic Focus: International (Tanzania, The Gambia, India, Pakistan, Senegal) and UK (10 areas)
• Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Address: 8-10 Glastonbury Road, Birmingham B14 4DR

Phone: 0121 44 66 880 (24 Hours)

Alternative Phone: 0333 888 0123

Email: info@sabeelfoundation.org

Website: www.sabeelfoundation.org

Charity Number: 1176949

Overview

Sabeel Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered in 2018 that focuses on preventing and relieving poverty worldwide. With an annual income of £820,412 (2024) and total expenditure of £782,460, the foundation operates as a hybrid organization - both running its own direct charitable programs and making grants to other institutions. In 2024, they distributed £197,729 in grants to institutions, down from £226,245 in 2023 and £248,211 in 2022. The foundation works across multiple countries including Tanzania, The Gambia, India, Pakistan, and Senegal, as well as in 10 areas within the UK. Their charitable activities encompass humanitarian and disaster relief, education and training, animal welfare, and environmental protection, all underpinned by Islamic charitable principles.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Sabeel Foundation makes discretionary grants to organizations and charities working to prevent or relieve poverty. While specific grant programs are not publicly defined, their financial records show consistent institutional grantmaking ranging from approximately £197,000 to £248,000 annually.

Note: Sabeel Foundation does not operate a public application process. Grants appear to be awarded at the discretion of trustees to organizations aligned with their mission.

Priority Areas

Based on their registered charitable purposes and activities, the foundation supports:

• Poverty relief: Grants, items, and services to individuals in need and organizations working to prevent or relieve poverty
• Education and training: Promoting education globally
• Disaster relief: Supporting victims of natural disasters and emergencies
• Humanitarian aid: Food security, water access, healthcare
• Animal welfare: Supporting animal welfare initiatives
• Environmental protection: Nature conservation and environmental projects

Geographic Priorities

• International: Tanzania, The Gambia, India, Pakistan, Senegal
• UK: Operations in 10 areas across the United Kingdom

What They Don't Fund

Information not publicly available. Given their Islamic charitable focus and mission centered on poverty relief and humanitarian aid, funding is likely focused on these areas.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The foundation is governed by 2 trustees:

Hafiz Syed Tariq Mahmood Shah - Chair (appointed February 10, 2018)

Tahira Zafar - Trustee (appointed February 1, 2018)

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Staffing

The foundation employs 9 staff members and works with 3 volunteers. No employees receive benefits over £60,000.

How to Apply to Sabeel Foundation

How to Apply

Sabeel Foundation does not have a public application process.

Grants appear to be awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations working in alignment with the foundation's mission to prevent or relieve poverty. The foundation does not publish application guidelines, deadlines, or eligibility criteria.

Organizations interested in potential funding should note that Sabeel Foundation operates as a hybrid charity - they both run their own direct charitable programs (such as Water for All, Food for All, Mosque Projects, Qurbani Project, Sponsor A Child, and emergency relief appeals) AND make grants to external institutions. The basis on which external organizations are selected for grants is not publicly disclosed.

Getting on Their Radar

Limited information is available about how the foundation identifies and selects grant recipients. Given the lack of public application process, organizations might consider:

• Direct contact: The foundation can be reached at info@sabeelfoundation.org or 0121 44 66 880. Organizations working in their priority areas (Tanzania, The Gambia, India, Pakistan, Senegal, or UK poverty relief) could make initial contact to introduce their work
• Alignment with Islamic charitable principles: As an Islamic charity, organizations working in Muslim-majority countries or serving Muslim communities may be of particular interest
• Geographic alignment: Organizations operating in their target countries (Tanzania, The Gambia, India, Pakistan, Senegal) or UK areas where they work may have better chances of consideration

Expenditure Breakdown

Based on 2024 financial data:

• Charitable activities: £452,610 (58% of total expenditure)
• Fundraising costs: £329,850 (42% of total expenditure)
• Grants to institutions: £197,729 (included within charitable activities)

The foundation has consistently maintained institutional grantmaking as part of its charitable expenditure, though the proportion allocated to grants versus direct program delivery is not publicly specified.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: Sabeel Foundation does not accept open applications; grants are awarded at trustee discretion
• Hybrid operating model: The foundation both delivers its own programs AND makes grants to institutions, making it different from pure grantmaking trusts
• Consistent but declining institutional grants: Grant levels have decreased from £248k (2022) to £198k (2024), suggesting either strategic shift or economic pressures
• Islamic charitable focus: The foundation operates under Islamic charitable principles, which may influence selection of beneficiaries
• International focus: Strong emphasis on work in Tanzania, The Gambia, India, Pakistan, and Senegal
• Small governance structure: With only 2 trustees, decision-making is concentrated and may be influenced by personal networks and relationships
• Direct contact advised: Given lack of formal process, organizations interested in funding should make direct contact to introduce their work and explore alignment

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Zarina Foundation
• Muslim Hands
• H C D Memorial Fund
• The Zahra Trust
• Ganco Charitable Foundation
• Halcrow Foundation
• The Breadsticks Foundation
• Livingston Charitable Trust
• Zouq Foundation
• Ida Davis Family Foundation

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities - Sabeel Foundation (Charity No. 1176949). Retrieved from: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1176949&subid=0
• Charity Commission Financial History - Sabeel Foundation. Retrieved from: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5116394/financial-history
• Charity Commission Trustees Information - Sabeel Foundation. Retrieved from: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5116394/trustees
• Sabeel Foundation Official Website. Retrieved from: https://sabeelfoundation.org/
• Fundraiso - Sabeel Foundation Profile. Retrieved from: https://www.fundraiso.com/en/organisations/sabeel-foundation
• NGO Explorer - Sabeel Foundation. Retrieved from: https://ngoexplorer.org/charity/1176949