J.K. Rowling established Lumos to support vulnerable children.
Lumos is an international charity founded by Rowling in 2005. It works to end the institutionalization of children and promote family- and community-based care. The organization was originally called the Children’s High Level Group before adopting the name Lumos in 2010.
The charity’s work responds to the harms that can occur when children grow up in orphanages or other large institutions, especially when they have living relatives or could be supported in family settings. Lumos has worked with governments and partners on reforms in countries including the Czech Republic, Moldova and Bulgaria.
The name Lumos comes from the Harry Potter universe: “Lumos” is a wand-lighting spell. The charitable organization is not a fictional institution, however; it is a real nonprofit focused on child-protection systems and alternatives to institutional care. Rowling’s involvement connects her public philanthropy with a specific social issue rather than with book publication alone.