Rumi Foundation

The Rumi Foundation, established in 2006 by UK-based philanthropist Lord Rumi Verjee CBE, is a family-led charitable foundation driven by his immigrant and entrepreneurial background to nurture talent among disadvantaged young people and foster positive social change. Rooted in values of compassion, kindness, and personal responsibility, it empowers individuals and organizations through education, entrepreneurship, leadership development, and global citizenship, while also supporting arts and culture, health innovations (like pediatric cancer detection), and poverty alleviation. Its distinctive approach emphasizes strategic partnerships over open grantmaking, providing grants alongside mentoring, expertise, and global networks to build capacity for systemic impact, with total giving exceeding £33 million since inception and recent annual expenditure around £0.89 million.

The Foundation prioritizes initiatives unlocking youth potential, such as resilience programs in East London (Renaissance Foundation), mentoring for deprived youth (Mosaic), pediatric research endowments (Downing College Cambridge), health support (Body & Soul), good governance (Global Leadership Foundation), and education infrastructure in Uganda via Clinton Foundation links. It backs ambitious projects in the UK, sub-Saharan Africa, India, and beyond, focusing on proven, scalable efforts that promote leadership, dialogue, and human capital development.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, community groups, academic institutions, or voluntary bodies—primarily established medium-to-large organizations with strong track records, rather than start-ups—operating without geographic restrictions but aligning with UK or priority regions like Uganda, India, and East/South Africa. Funding is invitation-only; no unsolicited applications or public deadlines exist, with trustees making ad hoc decisions post-network referrals, due diligence, and direct engagement. Grants vary substantially for core costs, projects, multi-year endowments, or unrestricted support, tailored to high-impact strategic partners.

Distinctively relational and selective, the Foundation avoids unproven initiatives, routine operations, or non-aligned causes, standing out as a pioneering capacity-builder for transformative, youth-centered interventions across disciplines.