Harbour Foundation

The Harbour Foundation, a UK charitable company limited by guarantee established in 1970, is dedicated to relieving poverty, suffering, and distress among refugees, homeless, and displaced persons worldwide. Governed by a stable board of unpaid Director-Trustees from the Harbour family business group, it draws on substantial investment income and profits from its subsidiary, Conlatuse Limited, which focuses on commercial real estate. Its broad charitable objects span poverty relief, education, health, overseas aid, religious and cultural activities, environmental protection, and community development, with a distinctive humanitarian ethos emphasizing voluntary oversight, conflict-of-interest policies, and enduring family stewardship for impactful, values-aligned giving.

The Foundation funds humanitarian relief, refugee welfare, educational advancement for vulnerable groups, health initiatives, and community wellbeing projects, supporting refugees, homeless individuals, displaced persons, children, youth, older people, those with disabilities, other charities, voluntary bodies, and the general public. Grants cover project funding, core costs, unrestricted support, capital, revenue, seed funding, emergency relief, and capacity building, with flexibility for both direct aid to individuals and organizations addressing acute needs beyond state provision, in the UK (primarily England and Wales) or overseas.

Eligible recipients are UK-registered charities of any size, from grassroots to large entities, with no income thresholds or geographic base restrictions, though activities must align with charitable purposes. Funding is invite-only: no unsolicited applications or public processes; trustees identify and recommend grantees via rolling decisions at regular meetings throughout the year. Typical grants range up to £200,000, varying by need and priority fit. Distinctively, it avoids open calls, prioritizing trustee-researched humanitarian interventions over broad sectoral restrictions.