What Islamic Relief Australia does

Islamic Relief Australia is an Australian-registered non-profit humanitarian charity and a member of the Islamic Relief Worldwide global network, which has operated since 1984. The organization delivers emergency relief, sustainable development, orphan sponsorship, and Shariah-compliant Islamic giving programs across 25 countries, reaching 19.6 million people with 445 projects in 2025 alone. Its core product set includes Zakat (obligatory 2.5% almsgiving), Sadaqah, Fidya, Kaffarah, Qurban, and a one-to-one Orphan Sponsorship program supporting over 92,000 children across 27 countries globally, supplemented by digital tools such as Zakat calculators and a Hijri calendar.

The organization operates as a direct-to-consumer charity, raising funds through its website, a toll-free hotline (1300 308 554), email, and recurring subscriptions starting at $5/month, with orphan sponsorship tiered at $100 per child per month. Donations are tax-deductible via Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, and the organization is ACNC-registered and a signatory to the ACFID Code of Conduct. Its principal donor segments are practicing Australian Muslims fulfilling religious obligations and tax-conscious Australian donors, with a separate segment of sponsors seeking personal connection through one-to-one child sponsorship.

Distribution leverages Islamic Relief Worldwide's local offices in more than three dozen countries, partnerships with the World Food Programme, WHO, and the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association (PANZMA), and local Australian Muslim community organizations through the Help at Home program. Programmatic scale is concentrated heavily in Gaza (food, medical, orphan support) and Sudan (food, cash, medical), with secondary active appeals in Yemen and Lebanon. Underlying technology is minimal; no proprietary software platforms, AI systems, or public APIs are disclosed, and operational execution relies on the global IRW infrastructure rather than in-house technology products.

Name

Islamic Relief Australia

Legal name

Islamic Relief Australia

Website

https://islamicrelief.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Islamic Relief Australia is an Australian-registered humanitarian charity and member of Islamic Relief Worldwide, delivering emergency relief, orphan sponsorship, and Shariah-compliant Islamic giving programs across 25 countries to Australian Muslim donors and tax-conscious givers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

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), Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Emergency relief programs
• Islamic charitable giving
• Orphan sponsorship programs
• Zakat donations

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Primary revenue stream from individual donors making one-time or recurring donations through website, phone, or mail. Donations support various humanitarian programs including emergency relief, sustainable development, orphan sponsorship, and Islamic giving (Zakat, Sadaqah, Fidya, Kaffarah). Tax-deductible for Australian donors with DGR status.
2. Zakat Donations: Islamic almsgiving donations - one of five pillars of Islam. Muslims who meet Nisab threshold (approximately $2,368 AUD using silver Nisab as of March 2026) pay 2.5% of their wealth annually. Funds distributed to eight eligible recipient categories including the poor, needy, debtors, and refugees.
3. Sadaqah (Voluntary Charity): Voluntary charitable donations given at any time, in any amount, for the sake of Allah. Includes Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity/sustainable development projects) and general voluntary donations.
4. Orphan Sponsorship Program: Monthly recurring sponsorship program supporting orphans globally. Sponsors pay monthly amounts ($100/month for one child, $200 for two, $300 for three) with 80 cents of every dollar going directly to sponsored children. Guardian receives quarterly payments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Islamic Relief Australia is a humanitarian and development charity that raises donations from Australian individuals to fund emergency relief, sustainable development, orphan sponsorship, and Shariah-compliant Islamic giving programs. Funds are deployed through the Islamic Relief Worldwide global network to deliver food, water, healthcare, education, and shelter to vulnerable communities across 25+ countries. Core channels include one-time and recurring monthly donations via website, phone, and community engagement, supporting programs such as Zakat, Sadaqah, Fidya, Kaffarah, Qurban, and Ramadan appeals.

Product overview

Islamic Relief Australia operates as a humanitarian and development organisation offering a comprehensive portfolio of Islamic charitable giving products and humanitarian programs. The core offerings include Zakat (obligatory 2.5% annual almsgiving for eligible Muslims) and Sadaqah (voluntary charity), supported by specialized calculators and guidance tools. The Orphan Sponsorship Program provides one-to-one support to over 92,000 children across 27 countries. Seasonal programs include Ramadan Iftar meals and Qurban (Eid al-Adha) meat distributions. Emergency response capabilities cover global crises including Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Philippines, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Albania, and Bosnia. The organisation also runs sustainable development programs in food relief, clean water access, education, and early childhood development. A local Australian 'Help at Home' program supports community organisations serving Muslim populations across Australian states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zakat Obligatory annual Islamic almsgiving of 2.5% of Zakatable wealth for adult Muslims above the Nisab threshold. Funds distributed to eight eligible recipient categories including the poor, needy, debtors, and refugees. Scholar-verified Shariah-compliant giving for Australian Muslim donors.
• Sadaqah Voluntary Islamic charity given at any time, in any amount, for the sake of Allah. Includes Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity through sustainable development projects) and general voluntary donations. Distinct from obligatory Zakat.
• Orphan Sponsorship Program One-to-one monthly orphan sponsorship supporting over 92,000 children across 27 countries. Sponsors commit $100/month per child ($200 for two, $300 for three). Optional health/education add-ons at $30-$55/month per child. 80 cents of every dollar goes directly to the sponsored child, with annual progress reports and quarterly guardian payments.
• Fidya Compensation donation for Muslims unable to fast during Ramadan due to illness or valid reasons. Equivalent to feeding one person per missed fast day at $20 AUD per person fed. Set by ANIC for 2026.
• Kaffarah Expiation payment for deliberately breaking a fast without valid reason, requiring feeding 60 poor people for each day missed ($1,200 for 60 meals at $20 AUD per person). Set by ANIC for 2026.
• Interest Cleansing (Riba) Donation service allowing Muslims to donate accumulated interest money in a Shariah-compliant manner to cleanse their wealth from haram gains.
• Zakat Calculator Online calculator helping Muslims determine their Zakat obligation by inputting assets and liabilities, with real-time Nisab threshold values for 2026.
• Emergency Appeals Humanitarian emergency response programs providing immediate relief for disasters including Sudan, Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, Pakistan floods, Afghanistan earthquake, Philippines earthquake, Morocco floods, Sri Lanka floods, Albania wildfires, and Bosnia floods.
• Gaza Emergency Appeal Comprehensive humanitarian response in Gaza providing food, water, medical supplies, maternal care, orphan support for 21,000+ orphaned children, and psychosocial assistance to Palestinians affected by ongoing conflict. Includes 72,518,300+ ready-to-eat meals and 2,274,000+ medical items distributed.
• Sudan Emergency Appeal Emergency response addressing famine conditions and mass displacement in Sudan, providing food assistance to 1,482,800+ people, cash assistance to 85,100+ IDP households, medical supplies to 61 hospitals/clinics, and water and hygiene support.
• Yemen Emergency Appeal Humanitarian response in Yemen providing emergency food assistance, health and nutrition services, WASH programs, and economic recovery support across 22 governorates. Reached 38,668 people in Raymah governorate and provided malnutrition treatment for 115,525 children and 134,092 mothers.
• Medical Assistance in Gaza (PANZMA Partnership) Partnership with Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association (PANZMA) to deploy specialist medical teams and provide surgical equipment, medications, and trauma care to Gaza. Over 24,160 patients treated and 7,103 life-saving surgeries performed across 12 completed missions with 20 ongoing or planned for 2026.
• Food Relief Food assistance programs including hot meals, food packs, food vouchers, and emergency food parcels for vulnerable families in crisis situations.
• Water for Life Clean water access programs including water wells, mobile water trucks, water trucking, and rehabilitation of water systems in underserved communities.
• Funding Futures (Education) Education and skill development programs supporting children's schooling, vocational training, and business skills to help families achieve long-term economic stability.
• Early Childhood Development

Quantifiable outcome

• 19,591,748 people directly reached in 2025 across 25 countries with 445 projects delivered
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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.

• PANZMA (Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver urgently needed medical assistance to Gaza. Islamic Relief Australia and PANZMA coordinate with WHO to deploy specialist medical teams in Gaza. Each team stays 4 weeks with up to 10 specialists (surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses). Over 24,160 patients treated, 7,103 life-saving surgeries performed. 12 missions completed, 20 ongoing/planned for 2026.
• World Food Programme (WFP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for food distribution in Gaza. Together distributed over 71 million hot meals, 229,000 ready-to-eat food parcels, and nutritional supplements for 35,000 young children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. WFP electronic payment system used for cash transfers to families.
• World Health Organisation (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO coordination for medical missions to Gaza. PANZMA and Islamic Relief Australia deploy medical teams in coordination with WHO, supporting hospitals and health facilities with essential medical supplies and equipment.
• Ministry of Health PalestinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination with Ministry of Health and associated hospitals in Gaza including Shuhada Al-Aqsa Hospital, Gaza European Hospital, and Naser Hospital for healthcare delivery and medical supply distribution.
• Islamic Relief WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIslamic Relief Australia is a member of the Islamic Relief Worldwide global family. The global network includes local staff in more than three dozen countries, enabling swift emergency response and extensive reach for humanitarian programs.
• Australian Council for International Development (ACFID)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIslamic Relief Australia is an active ACFID member, adhering to the ACFID Code of Conduct which defines minimum standards of governance, management and accountability for NGOs. Complaints relating to Code breaches can be made to ACFID Code of Conduct Committee.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• Muslim Hands: UK-based international Muslim charity providing Zakat, Sadaqah, orphan sponsorship, and emergency appeals. Closely comparable Islamic-giving product mix and recurring donor model, with growing Australian donor fundraising.
• Penny Appeal Australia: Australian arm of the UK-based Penny Appeal, providing Islamic-compliant giving products including Zakat, orphan sponsorship, and emergency appeals. Targets price-conscious Muslim donors with smaller recurring donation tiers, partially overlapping with IRA's donor base.

Direct peers

• Muslim Aid Australia: Australian Muslim-focused humanitarian charity providing Zakat, Sadaqah, orphan sponsorship, and emergency appeals. Competes directly for the same Australian Muslim donor base with overlapping Islamic giving products and DGR tax-deductible donations.
• Islamic Relief Worldwide: Parent global network headquartered in Birmingham, UK, founded 1984. Operates humanitarian programs in 40+ countries and is the parent organization of Islamic Relief Australia, providing field execution, brand, and global coordination capabilities.
• Human Appeal Australia: Australian arm of the UK-based Human Appeal International, providing Islamic-compliant charity products including Zakat, orphan sponsorship, and emergency appeals. Targets the same Australian Muslim donor segments with similar recurring and one-off donation models.

Broad incumbents

• Caritas Australia: Australian Catholic humanitarian agency with DGR and ACFID membership. Comparable in faith-based humanitarian positioning, emergency response, and recurring donor programs, but serves a different faith-based donor segment.
• UNICEF Australia: Major UN-affiliated humanitarian organization with strong Australian donor base, recurring giving programs, and global emergency response. Competes for general humanitarian donations including emergency appeals in conflict zones.
• Australian Red Cross: Largest Australian humanitarian organization with DGR status, broad donor base, and emergency response capabilities. Competes for general humanitarian giving and corporate partnerships but lacks Islamic-specific giving products.
• Oxfam Australia: Major Australian humanitarian and development NGO with DGR and ACFID membership. Competes for emergency response donations and recurring givers but focuses on secular, rights-based framing rather than faith-aligned giving products.
• World Vision Australia: Large Australian humanitarian and child sponsorship organization with DGR status, ACFID membership, and global field operations. Competes for tax-deductible Australian donations and sponsorships but with a Christian-affiliated, broader generalist positioning rather than Islamic-specific giving.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/islamic-relief-australia

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Australia