Harbo Charities Limited

Harbo Charities Limited, established in 1981 as a private company limited by guarantee, is a UK-based grant-maker dedicated exclusively to supporting Orthodox Jewish charities. Its core mission is to provide philanthropic grants for religious, educational, and social welfare activities within the UK's Orthodox Jewish community, focusing on alleviating poverty and hardship, advancing Jewish education, sustaining places of worship, and offering relief to those facing sickness or disability. With a conservative ethos emphasizing financial sustainability, the charity maintains substantial reserves to ensure reliable, long-term grant-giving, distributing around £130,000–£140,000 annually through core funding, project grants, and unrestricted support to grassroots and community-based organizations.

It prioritizes initiatives addressing poverty relief, health and disability support, religious programs, and Jewish education, always centered on Orthodox Jewish beneficiaries and causes in the UK, with no support for generalist or non-Jewish efforts.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities serving the Orthodox Jewish community; small to medium-sized groups with proven delivery in these areas are preferred, though no formal income thresholds apply. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—grants are awarded at trustees' discretion on a rolling basis to known or approached organizations, with no public forms, deadlines, or open rounds. Typical grants range from several thousand pounds up to £40,000.

Distinctive for its narrow, faith-specific focus and closed, invitation-only process, Harbo avoids broad philanthropy, capital projects outside its remit, or non-UK activities, ensuring targeted stewardship of resources for enduring community impact.