Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT)

What Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT) does

Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT) is a UK-registered charity (Charity Commission No. 1113836) founded in 2005 following the Kashmir earthquake to deliver orphan care, education, healthcare, and humanitarian relief in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan. Its operational backbone is the KORT Educational & Residential Complex in Mirpur, comprising boys' and girls' hostels (the girls' hostel accommodates 500 residents across four floors), classrooms, libraries, computer labs, and a sports complex inaugurated in 2020 by Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan; supporting infrastructure includes a digital laboratory at DHQ Kotli and a government primary school in Mawa, Islamgarh. The charity is expanding into healthcare through the KORT Mega Hospital Project (£500,000 capital target) and a planned KORT Burn Centre, alongside livelihood programmes (wheelchairs at £60, sewing machines at £35, widow empowerment) and water filtration plants.

KORT's revenue model is donation-based and Sharia-compliant, structured around one-time and recurring giving instruments tied to Islamic obligations: Zakat, Sadaqah, Lillah, Fidya (£5/fast or £150/Ramadan), Fitrana (£5/person), Qurbani/Udhiyah (£425/cow or £61/share), and child sponsorship tiers (£35–£350/month). It operates a 100% donation policy for Zakat and Sadaqah, with administrative costs covered separately through Gift Aid reclamation (25p per £1 from UK taxpayers) and operational funds; the published overhead ratio is approximately 8p per £1 donated. Distribution and donor acquisition rely on a multi-channel mix including the kort.org.uk website and shop, telephone and BACs bank transfers, a volunteer network called Muskorteers running community fundraising across UK cities, broadcast media via a 2026 partnership with Club Asia Radio, social media, and endorsements from ambassadors including England cricketer Adil Rashid and singer Atif Aslam. Field operations are delivered through offices in the UK (Leicester HQ), Pakistan/Azad Kashmir, and the UAE, with the Qurbani programme reaching over 60,000 beneficiaries across 36 cities in 2021.

Name

Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT)

Legal name

Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust

Website

https://kort.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT) is a UK-registered charity providing orphan care, education, and humanitarian relief to vulnerable children and families in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir via the Mirpur Educational Complex, sponsorship programmes, and seasonal Islamic giving appeals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid and Orphan Care Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Orphan care services
• Humanitarian relief
• Islamic charitable giving
• Child sponsorship programs
• Community development aid

Headquarters

HQ city

Leicester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations (Zakat, Sadaqah, Lillah, Fidya, Fitrana): KORT's primary revenue is derived from charitable donations from individuals, including Islamic obligatory almsgiving (Zakat), voluntary charity (Sadaqah), unconditional gifts (Lillah), compensation for missed fasts (Fidya), and end-of-Ramadan charity (Fitrana). The organization maintains a 100% donation policy for Zakat and Sadaqah, meaning all such donations go directly to beneficiaries.
2. Child Sponsorship: Monthly or annual sponsorship payments from donors to support orphaned children, providing housing, education, healthcare, and food. Donors receive regular progress reports and updates on the child they sponsor.
3. Gift Aid Reclaim: KORT reclaims 25p per £1 donated by UK taxpayers through the Gift Aid scheme, which is applied to cover administrative costs, allowing more of actual donations to go directly to charitable programmes.
4. Qurbani (Udhiyah) Programme: During Eid-ul-Adha, donors pay for the sacrifice and distribution of livestock meat to the needy. In 2021, KORT conducted Qurbani in 36 locations benefiting over 60,000 people. Pricing is £425 per full cow (7 shares) or £61 per share.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

KORT is a UK-registered charitable non-profit that provides orphan care, education, shelter, healthcare, food security, and clean water to vulnerable children, widows, and families in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan. Its core offerings include child sponsorship, the KORT Educational Complex in Mirpur, Islamic religious giving channels (Zakat, Sadaqah, Qurbani, Fidya, Fitrana), and humanitarian infrastructure projects such as the KORT Hospital, Burn Centre, water filtration plants, and livelihood programmes (wheelchairs, sewing machines).

Product overview

Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT) is a UK-registered charity (No. 1113836) operating as a non-profit humanitarian organization rather than a technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of charitable programs including orphan sponsorship, educational support, healthcare facilities (KORT Hospital Project, KORT Burn Centre), infrastructure projects (water filtration plants, shelter), livelihood programs (sewing machines, widow empowerment), and Islamic religious giving options (Zakat, Sadaqah, Qurbani). The core offerings center on the KORT Educational Complex and KORT Sports Complex in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, which provide residential care, education, and extracurricular activities for orphaned children. The organization operates on a 100% donation policy for Zakat and Sadaqah contributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Orphan Sponsorship Monthly or annual sponsorship programme providing orphaned children with safe housing, education, clothing, medical care, nutrition, and comprehensive support at the KORT Educational Complex in Mirpur. Donors receive regular progress reports on the child they sponsor.
• KORT Educational Complex Residential and educational facility in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, housing orphaned children with classrooms, libraries, computer labs, hostels, and sports facilities on a 13-acre campus.
• Zakat Donation Programme Islamic obligatory charity (2.5% of wealth above Nisab) distributed under a 100% donation policy to eligible recipients in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, with administrative costs covered separately via Gift Aid.
• Sadaqah Donation Programme Voluntary Islamic charitable donations supporting orphans and community welfare projects in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, administered under KORT's 100% donation policy.
• Qurbani (Udhiyah) Programme During Eid-ul-Adha, donors pay for the sacrifice and distribution of livestock meat to needy families in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. In 2021, KORT conducted Qurbani in 36 locations benefiting over 60,000 people. Pricing is £425 per full cow (7 shares) or £61 per share.
• KORT Hospital Project Construction of a mega hospital in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir, to provide healthcare services to underserved communities. The campaign has a fundraising target of £500,000.
• KORT Burn Centre Specialized burn treatment facility project to serve victims of burns in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan.
• Water Filtration Plants Solar-powered water filtration plants providing clean drinking water to communities in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan.
• Wheelchair Appeal Distribution of wheelchairs (priced at £60 each) to mobility-impaired individuals in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, with free replacement provided in the event of damage or fault.
• Sewing Machine Programme Distribution of sewing machines (£35 each) along with pieces of unstitched cloth to help widows and poor women in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan become self-sufficient through livelihood generation.
• Ramadan Food Pack Ramadan food pack (£40 per family) containing assorted lentils, sugar, salt, ghee, dates, pasta, rice, and other staples — feeds a family of five for the entire month of Ramadan.
• Orphan Welfare Programme Comprehensive care programme for orphaned children including shelter, nutrition, healthcare, clothing, and emotional support through orphanages and sponsorship programmes.
• Education for All Educational support programme providing access to quality schooling, learning materials, uniforms, and digital literacy for orphans and underprivileged children.
• Widow Empowerment Support services for widows including housing, vocational skills training, and livelihood assistance through the Sewing Machine Programme and related empowerment activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60,000 beneficiaries in 2021 Qurbani programme across 36 locations in Azad Kashmir and Punjab
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Club Asia RadiocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 February 2026Club Asia Radio (24-hour Ofcom-licensed DAB station broadcasting to Birmingham, Solihull and surrounding areas, with ~500,000 DAB listeners and 30,000 monthly online listeners) entered a media partnership to help fundraise for the KORT Mega Hospital Project in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir. The station airs a 1-minute 12-second KORT Mega Hospital Project advert 13 times a day at no cost, produced by experienced radio professionals. The station's flagship Pahari/Pothwari show 'Masi Bhera' targets the Birmingham Azad Kashmiri community. Club Asia Radio is the only charity project the station supports in this format.
• Naseeb Abbas (Marketing & Fundraising Officer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaseeb Abbas served as Marketing and Fundraising Officer at KORT and contributed to the success of the Qurbani 2019 project, which achieved a record 50 Qurbanis of large animals benefiting over 14,000 people.
• Children of AdamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChildren of Adam collaborated with KORT on a fundraising dinner in Peterborough, UK, alongside KORT's Muskorteer volunteers, contributing to the event's success.
• Sea Fresh BradfordminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSea Fresh Bradford donated chocolate fudge cakes which were sold by KORT Muskorteer volunteers during Ramadhan 2017, raising over £51,000 for orphan children.
• Barclays Bank UKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBarclays Bank UK provides KORT's business banking account (Sort Code 20-49-17, Account Number 13444112) enabling donors to make BACs transfers for donations. Referenced in KORT's donation literature as the bank's for donation transfers.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Muslim Aid: Established UK-based Islamic charity with orphan sponsorship, emergency relief, and Islamic giving programmes targeting the UK Muslim diaspora. Operates in similar geographies and channels the same Zakat-eligible donor pool as KORT.
• UMM AH Welfare Trust: UK-based Islamic charity specialising in 100% donation-policy giving, Zakat/Sadaqah distribution, and emergency relief including orphan care. Most operationally comparable peer to KORT on the 100% donation policy and Sharia-compliance positioning.
• Human Appeal: UK-registered Muslim charity delivering humanitarian relief, orphan sponsorship, and Islamic giving programmes across multiple geographies. Directly competes with KORT for the same UK Muslim donor base and Zakat/Sadaqah mandates.
• Islamic Relief Worldwide: UK-headquartered international Islamic humanitarian charity operating across more than 40 countries with orphan care, emergency relief, and Zakat-compliant programmes. Largest and most established directly comparable peer to KORT in the UK Muslim-charity space.
• SKT Welfare: UK-registered charity focused on humanitarian and development projects in Pakistan. Operates orphan sponsorship, education, and emergency relief in overlapping geographies with KORT and draws from the same UK Pakistani diaspora donor base.
• Helping Hand for Relief and Development: US-headquartered Muslim charity operating orphan sponsorship, Zakat, and emergency relief programmes across similar geographies. Comparable to KORT on programme mix and faith-based donor appeals, though it competes for a different national donor base.
• Islamic Aid: UK-based Muslim charity delivering orphan sponsorship, Ramadan food packs, and Qurbani programmes targeting the UK Muslim community. Closely comparable to KORT on programme structure and donor acquisition model.
• Penny Appeal: UK-based Muslim charity with strong digital fundraising capability, orphan sponsorship, and Zakat programmes. Directly competes with KORT for UK Muslim donors and is known for similar calendar-driven appeals (Ramadan, Qurbani).

Regional players

• Edhi Foundation: Pakistan's largest humanitarian charity, operating orphanages, ambulances, and welfare services. Comparable to KORT's in-country Pakistan field operations but does not compete in the UK fundraising market.
• Al-Khidmat Foundation: Pakistan-based Islamic humanitarian organization with extensive orphan-care, healthcare, and disaster-response operations. Directly comparable to KORT's on-the-ground programmes in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir but does not primarily target UK donors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kort
• Instagraminstagram.com/kort
• Facebookfacebook.com/KashmirOrphanReliefTrust
• TikToktiktok.com/@kort
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kashmirorphanrelieftrust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT)