The Human Milk Foundation

What The Human Milk Foundation does

The Human Milk Foundation (registered UK charity no. 1172522) was founded in 2017/2018 and is headquartered in Berkhamsted, England. It operates the Hearts Milk Bank, the UK's first non-profit human milk bank, which recruits and screens volunteer milk donors and provides pasteurised (Holder method), bacteriological-tested donor human milk free of charge to NHS neonatal intensive care units and to families in the community where breastfeeding is impossible. Distribution is delivered through a hub-and-spoke network of 7 regional hubs across England and Wales, supported by volunteer couriers (SERV Herts and Beds, Blood Bikes Wales) and a branded "Milk Mobile" collection vehicle. Service quality is anchored by NICE Clinical Guideline 93 compliance (100% in the 2020 audit) and a 5-Star Food Standards Agency rating; the charity is also piloting the Savant LiLac donor milk tracking system for batch traceability.

The charity employs a small core team (7 staff plus contracted lactation consultants and hub coordinators) whose expertise spans medicine, midwifery, lactation support, psychology, communications, and business management. Beyond milk provision it runs specialist lactation support (over 70% of supported families go on to feed with mother's own milk), a community programme delivering milk and lactation support to 130 families in Norfolk, a research programme with publications in The Lancet, BMJ, and other peer-reviewed journals (plus pilot research grants of up to £12,000), and education/training for NHS healthcare professionals.

Revenue comes entirely from charitable sources: individual donations and appeals, grants and trust/foundation funding (including the Funding Network and Norfolk County Council via Start for Life), corporate partnerships and an online gift shop (hmfgifts.com), and pro bono expert advisors. Donor milk is provided at no cost to recipients; per-donor screening costs approximately £100. The go-to-market combines enterprise-style engagement with NHS neonatal units, community-led donor recruitment and volunteer-driven last-mile logistics, and brand-building through media, academic publishing, and high-profile recognition including the Prime Minister's Points of Light Awards.

Name

The Human Milk Foundation

Legal name

Human Milk Foundation

Website

https://humanmilkfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Human Milk Foundation is a UK registered charity operating the Hearts Milk Bank, providing screened donor human milk free of charge to over 50 NHS neonatal intensive care units and community families across England and Wales through a network of 7 donor milk hubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Milk Banking

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

akta.pro primary industry

Lactation, Postpartum & Perinatal Support Services (HLAFAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Breastfeeding, Lactation & Infant Feeding Support (EDACAMAB), Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding (HLAJALAG)

Keywords

• Donor human milk
• Human milk banking
• Neonatal nutrition
• Lactation support
• Breastfeeding research

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkhamsted

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual donations and fundraising: The charity relies on the generosity of individual donors and supporters who make monetary donations. Fundraising campaigns include Crowdfunder (£30,000 target), event fundraising, and appeals (e.g., Christmas appeal). Every pound donated supports the operation.
2. Trust, foundation and grant funding: Funding received from trusts, foundations and grant-making bodies. Norfolk County Council via Start for Life funded the Norfolk hub. The Funding Network raised over £30,000 in 2019 and ~£25,000 via Strategy Funding Group in 2021. Mummy's Star provided grants for donor milk for specific families.
3. Corporate partnerships and gifts: Corporate partners support the charity financially and operationally. An online shop (hmfgifts.com) sells merchandise including mugs, tote bags, and phone covers with proceeds supporting operations. Products are made in the UK using Epson sustainable dye-sublimation printing.
4. Milk provision (free to recipients): Donor milk is provided free of charge to all recipients, including NHS hospitals and families. The charity does not charge for the milk itself, with costs covered by charitable donations and grants. Some NHS/CCG funding may cover individual family milk access in specific cases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Human Milk Foundation operates the Hearts Milk Bank, the UK's first non-profit human milk bank. It recruits and screens volunteer milk donors, pasteurises donated milk using the Holder method, performs bacteriological testing, and distributes screened donor human milk free of charge to over 50 NHS neonatal intensive care units across England and Wales and to families in the community when breastfeeding is impossible. The charity also provides specialist lactation support, healthcare professional education, and a research programme on human milk science.

Product overview

The Human Milk Foundation operates primarily through its core service, the Hearts Milk Bank, which is the UK's first non-profit human milk bank. The organisation provides a comprehensive suite of services including screened donor milk provision to NHS neonatal units and community families, milk donor recruitment and screening, and specialist lactation support. They operate a network of 7 regional donor milk hubs across England and Wales. Supporting services include the HMF Gift Store (merchandise with human milk science designs), the Connecting Hearts touring art exhibition, research and science programs with grant funding, and education/training for healthcare professionals. The organisation focuses on building national equitable access to donor human milk underpinned by research and educational programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hearts Milk Bank Donor Milk Service
• Milk Donor Recruitment Programme
• Lactation Support Services
• Donor Milk Hubs Network
• Human Milk Science Research Programme
• Healthcare Professional Education and Training
• HMF Gift Store
• Connecting Hearts Exhibition

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 NHS hospital neonatal intensive care units served
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Longdean SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2020Design students at Longdean School in Hemel Hempstead created three designs for the Hearts Milk Bank's first Milk Mobile vehicle wrap. The project was coordinated by Bicester Graphic Studio and the vehicle wrap was produced by Epson UK.
• Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation Mothers' Milk BankflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2018Transatlantic 'twin' partnership established in May 2018 between Hearts Milk Bank and the Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation Mothers' Milk Bank in Denver, Colorado. HMB co-founder Gillian Weaver visited the Denver milk bank to observe their operations, which has provided milk to hospitals in 50 US states over nearly 40 years. The partnership enables sharing of best practices, news, and collaborative projects between the two non-profit milk banks.
• Bicester Graphic StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinated the Milk Mobile vehicle wrap design project, bringing together student designs from Longdean School for the Hearts Milk Bank's first branded delivery vehicle.
• Epson UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEpson UK provided the SureColor SC-S80600 printer for producing the Milk Mobile vehicle wrap and sustainable printing technology (dye-sublimation) for the HMF gift shop merchandise. Epson volunteers also participated in snowdrop planting events for bereaved donors.
• Swansea UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Connecting Hearts immersive art exhibition, which tours England & Wales. The exhibition features paintings and audio telling stories of human milk donation. Professor Amy Brown from Swansea University also produces educational content for the charity.
• Imperial College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHMF co-founder Dr Natalie Shenker holds a research fellowship with Imperial College London. The college hostsDispatches documentary filming and research events. Co-founder stepped down from operational responsibility in September 2024 to focus on research leadership with Imperial.
• Savant (LiLac Donor Milk Tracking System)coreTechnology or IntegrationSavant is the leading UK company developing tracking systems for human tissues, working closely with NHS Blood and Transplant Service. HMB piloted the Savant LiLac Donor Milk Tracking System for comprehensive tracking and traceability from donor through pasteurisation to hospital dispatch.
• SERV Herts and BedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSERV Herts and Beds volunteer motorbike couriers collect and deliver donated milk from mothers' homes to the Hearts Milk Bank, alongside their vital work couriering blood products. They are described as 'simply wonderful volunteers' who 'drop everything to help out.'
• Blood Bikes WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlood Bikes Wales volunteers collect and deliver donated milk as part of the Hearts Milk Bank Wales operations, mirroring the SERV model in England.
• NHS Hospitals (Neonatal Units)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 50 NHS hospital neonatal intensive care units across England and Wales receive screened donor milk from the Hearts Milk Bank. Hospitals use the milk for premature and sick babies under healthcare professional oversight. Examples include Luton and Dunstable Hospital, which has been receiving donor milk since 2018.
• UK Ambassadors for Milk Banking (UKAMB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKAMB is a UK association for milk banking. Gillian Weaver was a co-founder and former President of the European Milk Bank Association (EMBA). Both organisations endorse milk donation for safety and security of supply and provide recommendations on safe milk sharing.
• European Milk Bank Association (EMBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMBA is a European association of milk banks. Gillian Weaver was a co-founder and former President. EMBA and UKAMB provide guidelines on safe milk banking. EMBA issued guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic on donor screening.
• UNICEF UK Baby Friendly InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe charity works alongside UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative to support breastfeeding in hospitals and communities. Luton and Dunstable NICU is working towards BFI accreditation with support from the HMB.
• Breastfeeding NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Breastfeeding Network is a UK charity providing breastfeeding support. The HMF is in 'early talks' about contributing to the BFN's work and referring mothers to their services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• La Leche League International: Global non-profit providing mother-to-mother breastfeeding support, education, and advocacy. Operates broadly in the same maternal-infant health mission as HMF but focuses on peer support rather than donor milk banking.
• UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative: UK programme working with hospitals and community services to support breastfeeding, including NHS trusts like Luton & Dunstable that partner with HMF. Overlapping mission in improving breastfeeding outcomes at UK scale.
• Prolacta Bioscience: US-based company producing human milk-based fortifiers and nutritional products from donor human milk for premature infants in NICUs. Comparable end-customer (NICUs) but operates a commercial for-profit model rather than HMF's non-profit donation model.
• Medolac Laboratories: US public benefit corporation processing donor human milk into shelf-stable products for hospital use. Comparable donor-milk processing activity serving NICU customers, but at commercial scale and via different preservation technology.

Direct peers

• The Breastfeeding Network: UK charity providing breastfeeding support and a national helpline on medication in breastfeeding. HMF is in early talks to refer mothers to BFN services, making it a direct peer in the UK maternal-infant support ecosystem.
• NHS Blood and Transplant: UK public body that has historically supplied donor human milk to NHS neonatal units. Operates milk bank services in direct overlap with the Hearts Milk Bank, serving the same NHS NICU customer base in England.
• Mothers' Milk Bank (San Jose): One of the largest non-profit human milk banks in the United States, providing pasteurised donor human milk to NICUs and outpatient families. Directly comparable non-profit milk-banking model and customer base to the Hearts Milk Bank.
• Rocky Mountain Mothers' Milk Bank: Colorado-based non-profit human milk bank operating for nearly 40 years and explicitly named as HMF's transatlantic 'twin' partner. Same non-profit model, same NICU and community family customer segments.

Others

• UK Association for Milk Banking (UKAMB): UK professional association for milk banks that sets guidelines and endorses safe donor milk sharing. HMF co-founders have been active members; functions as an industry-body peer rather than a direct service competitor.
• European Milk Bank Association (EMBA): European association of human milk banks co-founded by HMF co-founder Gillian Weaver, which issued COVID-19 donor screening guidance. Industry association peer rather than direct operational competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/humanmilkfoundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Human Milk Foundation