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Comic Relief
Comic Relief was established in 1985 by Richard Curtis and Sir Lenny Henry as a UK-registered charity. The organization raises funds through periodic televised...
Comic Relief
Comic Relief was established in 1985 by Richard Curtis and Sir Lenny Henry as a UK-registered charity. The organization raises funds through periodic televised events and directs proceeds to poverty-reduction initiatives. Grant deployment spans early-stage social ventures, growth funding for nonprofits, and select fund commitments. Positions include partnerships with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on global health projects and BBC-supported domestic programs. Activity covers the United Kingdom and multiple African and Asian countries. The foundation maintains two London offices and lists an investment portfolio valued near 85 million USD. Comic Relief US operates as a parallel vehicle. No operational events from the past 24 months appear in available records. Succession and governance rest with the founding principals, with Richard Curtis continuing as Vice Chair and Sir Lenny Henry as Honorary Life President.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1985
Location
Region
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
City
London
Corporate office
London, United Kingdom
Principals
Richard Curtis
Co-founder and Vice Chair
Sir Lenny Henry
Co-founder and Honorary Life President
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Comic Relief?
Richard Curtis serves as Co-founder and Vice Chair. Sir Lenny Henry serves as Co-founder and Honorary Life President. Day-to-day grant and investment oversight is not further detailed in public records.
Does Comic Relief participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The foundation uses a mix of direct project funding and fund-of-funds commitments. Strategy tags list Buyout, Early Stage, Fund of Funds, and Growth.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
Comic Relief raises capital through entertainment events and corporate partnerships rather than from a single family fortune. Major partners include Sainsbury's and British Airways.
How is Comic Relief related to Comic Relief US?
Comic Relief US functions as the parallel US-registered vehicle for international grantmaking.
What investment stages does Comic Relief typically target?
Tagged stages include Early Stage and Growth alongside Buyout and Fund of Funds.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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