The Cosaraf Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 1118481

Annual Expenditure: £1.4M

Geographic Focus: Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Throughout England

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £1,437,518 (FY 2023-24)
Total Income: £2,242,083 (FY 2023-24)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: 6-8 weeks (Hardship Grants); varies for Major Grants
Grant Range: £500 - £2,000 (Hardship); larger amounts for Major Grants
Geographic Focus: UK and international (Africa, especially East Africa; South Asia)
Impact Reach: Over 1.3 million individuals reached across 8 countries

Contact Details

Website: http://www.cosaraf.org

Email: info@cosaraf.org

Phone: 0300 111 7890

Address: Registered charity in England and Wales

For hardship grants, applications must be made through a referral partner organization on behalf of individuals in need.

Overview

The COSARAF Charitable Foundation was established in 2007 by Haroon and Farouq Sheikh, together with the extended Sheikh family. The foundation's name stands for “Children of Sheikh Abdul Rashid and Fahmida,” honoring the founders' parents. With total income of £2.24 million and charitable expenditure of £1.44 million in 2023-24, COSARAF supports projects across the UK and internationally, with particular focus on Africa (especially East Africa) and South Asia. The foundation's work has reached over 1.3 million individuals across eight countries, delivering 4.6 million meals, educating 1,070 children, and empowering 1,214 entrepreneurs. Co-founder Farouq Sheikh received an OBE in 2020 for services to specialist social care. The foundation commissions independent impact assessments through Bean Research to ensure accountability and effectiveness.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Hardship Grants (UK only)

£500 - £2,000 per applicant (typically £500; maximum £2,000 in exceptional cases)
Applications assessed every 6 weeks; decisions within 8 weeks
Rolling basis applications through referral partners only
Cannot reapply within 12 months

Small Grants Programme

Supports smaller projects with immediate impact
Application details available through website
Complements longer-term major grants work

Major Grants (Currently Closed)

Long-term partnerships with credible organizations
Multi-year funding for sustainable change
Recent partnerships supported 18 organizations benefiting 1 million people since 2018
Not accepting new applications at present

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on three overarching themes:

Community cohesion projects
Infrastructure and capacity building
Long-term systemic change

Education and skills development
STEM education for girls
Vocational training and entrepreneurship
Youth leadership programs

Economic empowerment and entrepreneurship
Education access for girls
Skills training and business development
Projects supporting deaf girls and marginalized groups

Hardship Grants specifically support:

Household items (white goods, essential furniture)
Rent and Council tax arrears (where homelessness risk is clear)
Basic living expenses (utilities, food)
Work or education-related expenses (interview clothes, school uniforms, laptops)
Immigration-related costs causing financial hardship

Special consideration given to:

Families with caring responsibilities
Financially excluded individuals
UK residents who have exhausted all other funding sources

What They Don't Fund

Government statutory responsibilities
Higher education fees
Private school fees
Non-essential items
Pet care
Water bill arrears
School trips
Car repairs
Holidays

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Governance and Leadership

Founders & Key Trustees:

Haroon Sheikh - Co-founder and Trustee for International Development; CEO of CareTech Holdings; established the COSARAF Kenya Feeding Project supporting 700+ people daily
Farouq Sheikh OBE - Co-founder and Trustee; Executive Chairman of CareTech Holdings; awarded OBE in 2020 for services to specialist social care
Akbar - Trustee

The Sheikh brothers are recognized as leading UK entrepreneurs and philanthropists. They founded CareTech Holdings Limited in 1993 and have received numerous awards for their business and philanthropic work. The foundation honors their parents, Sheikh Abdul Rashid and Fahmida, whose values inspired its establishment.

Partnership Approach:

The foundation works with credible partner organizations including Advantage Africa, Read Foundation, GEAR Trust, Deaf Reach Schools, African Gifted Foundation, Shamakha Foundation, Family Educational Services Foundation (FESF), Iron Aid Foundation, Hertfordshire Community Foundation, Ramadan Tent Project, and King's Trust International.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Hardship Grants:

Applications must be submitted by a recognized third-party organization (charity, public body, social landlord, voluntary organisation, school) acting as referral partner
Individuals cannot apply directly
Online application form available at www.cosaraf.org/hardship-application/
Requires support letter on letterheaded paper with detailed explanation of circumstances
Full budget details required, accounting for all expenses
Referral partner must manage grant disbursement via reimbursement of receipts

Major Grants:

Four-section detailed application form
Requires organizational details, project summary, evidence of need, budget breakdown, and evaluation plan
Must demonstrate alignment with foundation priorities
Currently not accepting new applications

Decision Timeline

Hardship Grants:

Hardship Fund committee meets once every 6 weeks
Awards made every 8-10 weeks
Applicants receive response within 8 weeks of submission

Major Grants:

Three-stage assessment process by staff and trustees
Timeline varies by project complexity
Typically involves detailed due diligence for long-term partnerships

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly disclosed. The foundation notes that “the Foundation always receives far more applications than it has funds to support” and is not obligated to explain unsuccessful applications. This indicates a competitive application process with more demand than available funding.

Reapplication Policy

Hardship Grants:

Cannot reapply within 12 months of previous grant
Maximum one grant per applicant per year

Major Grants:

Foundation supports long-term partnerships with existing grantees
Policy for unsuccessful applicants not specified; likely case-by-case

Application Success Factors

For Hardship Grant Applicants:

Must show all other funding sources have been explored and exhausted
Must demonstrate engagement with local services and support
Generic letters of support will not be accepted

Trustees need "full background details of the applicants' circumstances" to make informed decisions
Include specific, detailed explanation of hardship causes and needs
Quantify the impact the grant will make

Choose a referral partner who knows the applicant well and can provide detailed support
Ensure referral partner can manage reimbursement process (must pay upfront for receipts)
Referral partner must remain involved throughout the process

Applications for families receive priority
Those with caring responsibilities receive additional weight
Financially excluded individuals are prioritized

Focus on items that address urgent needs (avoiding homelessness, basic living expenses)
Demonstrate how requested items will create meaningful positive change
Stay within typical grant amounts (around £500) unless exceptional circumstances warrant more

For Major Grant Applicants (when reopened):

Foundation seeks “distinctive and innovative projects”
Show how your approach differs from existing solutions

Projects must drive long-term change, not short-term fixes
Evidence sustainability beyond the grant period

Demonstrate ability to attract additional funding and resources
Show partnership and collaboration approach

Explicitly connect your project to one or more of the three priority areas
Use foundation's language: cohesive communities, enabling young people, empowering women and girls

Foundation partners with established, credible organizations
Demonstrate track record and organizational capacity

Recent Funded Projects as Examples:

Supporting 237 women entrepreneurs in Pakistan (GEAR Trust) - food, cooking, stitching, embroidery, beauty salons, IT, education, farming ventures
Funding two Muslim girls to study STEM in Ghana (African Gifted Foundation)
Empowering 50 deaf girls with education and life skills in Pakistan (FESF)
Feeding 400 people weekly in Kenya's hardest-hit communities (Shamakha Foundation)
Supporting over 200 children with education and skills in India

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Highly competitive process: Foundation receives far more applications than available funding; ensure your application is compelling and well-evidenced
Third-party requirement for Hardship Grants: Individuals cannot apply directly; establish relationship with eligible referral partner organization before applying
Demonstrate exhausted alternatives: Must prove all other funding sources explored before COSARAF considered; show engagement with statutory and local services
Reimbursement model: Referral partners must pay upfront and claim reimbursement with receipts; ensure your partner organization has capacity for this
Focus on foundation's three priorities: Explicitly connect your work to cohesive communities, young people, or women and girls empowerment
International focus areas matter: For overseas work, alignment with East Africa or South Asia increases relevance
Long-term relationships valued: Foundation prefers sustained partnerships with credible organizations over one-off grants
Impact measurement expected: Foundation commissions independent impact assessments; demonstrate your evaluation approach and commitment to accountability