J.K. Rowling founded Lumos to help end the institutionalization of children.
The organization began in 2005 as the Children’s High Level Group, which Rowling co-founded with politician Emma Nicholson. It was renamed Lumos in 2010. The charity works internationally to replace institutions and orphanages with family- and community-based care for children.
Lumos argues that large residential institutions can harm children’s development, especially when they separate children from families and communities. Its work includes research, advocacy and support for systems that provide family reunification, foster care, adoption or other community services when appropriate.
The name Lumos comes from the Latin word for light and also recalls the light-producing spell in Harry Potter. The charity is a real-world organization, not a Harry Potter foundation or a fictional institution. Rowling’s involvement is central to its founding history, while the charity’s work extends beyond literary fandom.