The charity J.K. Rowling established to help end the institutionalization of children is Lumos. Rowling founded the organization in 2005, originally as the Children’s High Level Group.
Lumos works internationally to replace orphanages and other large institutions with family- and community-based care. Its central argument is that children generally develop better when they grow up in families or supportive local settings rather than in institutions.
The organization was renamed Lumos in 2010. The name refers to a light-producing spell in the Harry Potter universe, but the charity’s work concerns real-world child welfare, social care, education, and family support.
Lumos is not a fictional organization and is separate from Rowling’s literary charities and entertainment projects. Its campaigns address the risks faced by children separated from families, including neglect, developmental harm, and unnecessary placement in institutions.