What Islamic Relief Worldwide does

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is a UK-registered international humanitarian charity founded in 1984 and headquartered in Birmingham, operating across 40+ countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. The organization's core function is delivering emergency humanitarian relief and long-term development programming — including food aid, shelter, clean water, healthcare, education, and livelihoods support — to refugees, displaced persons, orphans, and crisis-affected populations. Its flagship programs include an Orphan Sponsorship Programme serving 85,500 orphans across 27 countries and active emergency appeals in at least nine concurrent crisis geographies including Sudan, Palestine, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Syria, and Venezuela.

The organization's revenue model is donation-based, structured around Islamic charitable instruments: Zakat (mandatory 2.5% annual giving), Sadaqah (voluntary donations), Waqf (perpetual endowments), Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity), Orphan Sponsorship (monthly recurring fees), and time-limited emergency appeals. Pricing for orphan sponsorship is tiered (e.g., $50/$150/$200 monthly), with suggested donation amounts set per emergency appeal. Distribution of aid is handled through field offices and local partners; donation collection is multi-channel — own website, community fundraising, corporate partnerships, and TIC International (a separate trading arm handling clothes recycling).

Operational scale in 2024 reached 14.5 million people supported through 407 development projects and 266 emergency projects. IRW operates subsidiaries including Islamic Relief UK, the Humanitarian Academy for Development (a training and research division), and — until late 2025 — Islamic Relief USA, which severed ties with the parent citing reputational damage. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by an executive team; Nadeem Malik serves as Interim CEO from October 2025. IRW holds Core Humanitarian Standard certification and is a member of the UK Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), and has faced regulatory and reputational headwinds including a 2021 US State Department action and terminations of banking relationships by HSBC and UBS over terror financing concerns.

Name

Islamic Relief Worldwide

Legal name

Islamic Relief Worldwide, Inc.

Website

https://islamic-relief.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Islamic Relief Worldwide is a UK-registered international humanitarian charity founded in 1984, operating across 40+ countries to deliver emergency relief, orphan sponsorship, and long-term development programs for Muslim donors and crisis-affected beneficiaries globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Emergency relief programmes
• Islamic charitable giving
• Orphan sponsorship programmes
• International development assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Zakat Donations: Islamic charitable giving (Zakat) - mandatory 2.5% of wealth above nisab threshold for eligible Muslims. Distributed to poor, needy, and those affected by crisis.
2. Sadaqah Donations: Voluntary charitable donations given for any amount at any time. Used for emergency response, development projects, and ongoing humanitarian programs.
3. Orphan Sponsorship: Monthly or one-time sponsorships supporting orphaned children. Includes one-to-one orphan sponsorship program with direct family support.
4. Emergency Appeals: Time-limited fundraising campaigns for specific humanitarian crises including Sudan, Palestine, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Syria, and other emergencies.
5. Waqf Endowments: Perpetual charitable endowments where donated assets generate ongoing returns supporting development work. Includes general waqf, orphans waqf, and water waqf.
6. Interest (Riba) Disposal: Shariah-compliant disposal of interest earned on savings - donors can donate accumulated interest to Islamic Relief for charitable purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Islamic Relief Worldwide is an international humanitarian charity that channels donations from Muslim and non-Muslim donors into emergency relief, long-term development, and orphan sponsorship programmes across 40+ countries. Its core offering combines Shariah-compliant Islamic giving instruments (Zakat, Sadaqah, Waqf, Sadaqah Jariyah, Interest/Riba disposal, Kaffarah, Fidya, Qurbani, Aqiqah) with country-specific emergency appeals (Sudan, Palestine, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Syria, Venezuela) and thematic development programmes in water, food, health, education, livelihoods and child welfare.

Product overview

Islamic Relief Worldwide operates as a humanitarian organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of charitable giving products and humanitarian programs. The core offerings include Islamic giving instruments (Zakat, Sadaqah, Waqf, Sadaqah Jariyah) that enable Muslims to fulfill religious obligations while supporting vulnerable populations globally. The organization runs emergency appeals for crises in Sudan, Palestine, Gaza, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Syria, and Venezuela, providing rapid humanitarian response. Long-term development programs cover water access, livelihoods, food security, healthcare, education, and a flagship Orphan Sponsorship Programme supporting over 85,500 orphans across 27 countries. The portfolio also includes utility tools like a Zakat Calculator for calculating religious obligations. Together, these products enable the organization to serve humanity across 40+ countries, supporting 14.5 million people in 2024 alone.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Orphan Sponsorship Programme One-to-one sponsorship programme supporting orphaned children with monthly stipends, education, healthcare, food, clothing and shelter across 27 countries, currently covering over 85,500 orphans with 80% of funds reaching beneficiaries directly.
• Sudan Emergency Appeal Humanitarian response to the conflict in Sudan since April 2023, providing food, water, shelter, healthcare and emergency aid to millions of displaced people, reaching over 2 million people with lifesaving aid.
• Palestine Emergency Appeal Emergency response providing life-saving aid to Palestinians in Gaza, including food distribution (over 70 million hot meals), clean water, healthcare and support for over 21,000 orphaned children, with £51 million of aid provided in Gaza since October 2023.
• Lebanon Emergency Appeal Emergency response supporting displaced families in Lebanon with food, water, hygiene kits, blankets and medical supplies amid escalating conflict, particularly assisting over one million Syrian refugees.
• Afghanistan Emergency Appeal Appeal supporting survivors of earthquakes and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, providing healthcare, tents and winter survival items, coordinated with OCHA.
• Pakistan Floods Appeal Emergency response to severe monsoon flooding in Pakistan that affected over 2.2 million people, providing food packs, shelters and recovery assistance, reaching over 730,000 people.
• Yemen Crisis Appeal Long-term crisis response in Yemen providing food, clean water, healthcare and malnutrition treatment to millions facing famine conditions, partnered with WFP and Yemen Humanitarian Fund.
• Syria Emergency Appeal Humanitarian response supporting Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons with food, shelter, healthcare, education and livelihoods support, building on programming in Syria and neighbouring countries since 2012.
• Venezuela Emergency Appeal Emergency response supporting communities affected by devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, with suggested donation tiers of $100, $200 and $400.
• Global Emergency Response Rapid emergency response service providing lifesaving aid including medicine, food, water, clothing, shelter and hygiene items during natural disasters and conflicts, delivering 266 emergency projects reaching 7+ million people in 2024.
• Zakat Giving Service Islamic obligatory charity service enabling Muslims to fulfil their annual Zakat obligation of 2.5% of net assets above the Nisab threshold (approximately $664.20 silver basis or $11,513.08 gold basis) through verified Shari'ah-compliant distribution to vulnerable populations.
• Sadaqah Donations Voluntary charitable donations supporting communities affected by conflict and natural disasters with flexible amounts and timing, including suggested amounts of $150, $200 and $400 for water and livelihood projects.
• Interest (Riba) Disposal Service for Muslims to donate accumulated interest (riba) from bank accounts in a Shari'ah-compliant manner, disposing of non-compliant earnings through charitable giving.
• Waqf Endowment Perpetual endowment programme where donated assets generate ongoing returns to support Islamic Relief's international development work, with General Waqf, Orphans Waqf and Water Waqf share options.
• Sadaqah Jariyah Ongoing charity programme supporting sustainable development projects such as water wells, schools and healthcare facilities that benefit communities for generations.
• Water Projects Programme Sustainable water projects providing clean water access to communities in need, including wells, water pumps and water purification systems.
• Livelihoods Programme Programmes helping families build sustainable futures through skills training, small business support and income generation activities.
• Food and Nutrition Programme Food assistance programmes that have supported 5.4 million people across 13 countries through emergency food aid and nutrition projects.
• Health Programme Healthcare services including medical care, disease prevention and health education for vulnerable communities.
• Cataract Surgery Programme Surgical programme providing cataract operations to restore sight for people in developing countries.
• Education Programme Educational support including school construction, supplies and teacher training to provide quality education for children in underserved communities.
• Orphans and Children Welfare Programme Comprehensive child welfare services including orphan sponsorship, child protection and support for vulnerable children's basic needs beyond the sponsorship programme.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14.5 million people supported in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• UNHCRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UNHCR for refugee support programs. Islamic Relief Deutschland highlighted UNHCR data showing approximately every fifth person in Lebanon is a refugee, including over one million Syrian refugees.
• OCHAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination with United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for emergency response operations, particularly in Afghanistan earthquake response.
• World Food ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with WFP for food assistance programs in Yemen, working together to provide life-saving aid to those most in need.
• Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Yemen Humanitarian Fund for coordinated humanitarian response and funding coordination.
• Humanitarian Academy for Development (HAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHAD is a division of Islamic Relief Worldwide - a centre of excellence seeking to empower the humanitarian sector and maximize its effectiveness through training and development.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferences UNICEF data on Sudan being the world's largest child displacement crisis, with millions of Sudanese children deprived of education.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Penny Appeal: Faith-inspired international humanitarian organization with comparable one-to-one orphan sponsorship, emergency appeals, water projects, and Qurbani/Ramadan campaigns. Directly competes for Muslim donor giving in the UK, US, and Australia.
• Human Appeal: UK-headquartered Islamic humanitarian NGO delivering emergency relief, orphan sponsorship, and development programs with comparable faith-based fundraising infrastructure. Strong overlap in donor segments, giving instruments (Zakat, Sadaqah), and crisis response portfolio.
• Qatar Charity: Large Qatar-based Islamic humanitarian NGO with global operations, orphan sponsorship, and Islamic giving products. Direct competitor for institutional and Gulf-state Muslim philanthropic flows.
• Muslim Aid: UK-based Islamic humanitarian charity operating across similar geographies (Asia, Africa, Middle East) with parallel faith-driven fundraising programs (Zakat, Sadaqah, orphan sponsorship, emergency appeals). Direct competitor for the same Muslim donor base in the UK and Europe.
• Mercy Malaysia: Muslim-majority-country headquartered Islamic humanitarian medical and emergency response organization. Operates a similar faith-based funding model across disaster zones with comparable medical relief and emergency response capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Oxfam: Large secular international humanitarian and development organization with comparable emergency response, long-term development, and advocacy programs. Several Islamic Relief senior leaders (e.g., Waseem Ahmad) previously worked at Oxfam, and the organizations co-compete for institutional humanitarian funding.
• World Vision: One of the largest faith-based child sponsorship and humanitarian NGOs globally, operating in 100+ countries with comparable orphan/child sponsorship scale. Adjacent faith-based incumbent competing for institutional and individual child-sponsorship donors.
• Médecins Sans Frontières: Global medical humanitarian organization with leading presence in conflict zones, overlapping heavily with Islamic Relief's emergency health and medical programming in Sudan, Gaza, Yemen, and Afghanistan.
• King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief): Saudi government-backed humanitarian donor and operator with comparable portfolio of multi-country emergency relief, orphan sponsorship, and development programs funded from Gulf-state Islamic philanthropy. Increasingly influential peer in the Islamic humanitarian sector.

Emerging players

• Relief International: Mid-sized international humanitarian organization delivering emergency relief, health, and education in crisis-affected countries. Similar operational footprint and emergency-response DNA, though with a secular funding base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/irwjobs
• Facebookfacebook.com/islamicreliefworldwide
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/islamic-relief-worldwide

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Islamic Relief Worldwide