J.K. Rowling founded Lumos in 2005 to help disadvantaged children.
The organisation was originally established as the Children’s High Level Group after Rowling wrote an article about children living in institutions. It later became Lumos, taking its name from the light-producing spell in the Harry Potter books. The charity works internationally to replace institutions and orphanages with family- and community-based care.
Lumos focuses on children who are separated from their families because of poverty, disability, conflict, or other vulnerabilities. Its work includes supporting family reunification, strengthening community services, and helping governments reform systems that place children in residential institutions.
The charity’s name is sometimes mistaken for the name of a Rowling-related foundation or a Harry Potter fan organisation. Lumos is an independent charitable organisation with a child-welfare mission. Rowling has supported it through philanthropy and public advocacy, while the organisation’s projects have operated in countries including Moldova, Bulgaria, and Haiti.