Why Prince Harry and Meghan’s Archewell is shrinking quickly

What started as rumors of mass layoffs has now turned into confirmed departures, structural changes and growing financial questions.

The Archewell Foundation, once positioned as the heart of the Sussexes’ humanitarian work, has been disbanded and replaced with a simpler model.

With staff leaving, costs rising and donations falling, concerns are growing about the sustainability of Prince Harry and his wife’s charitable vision.

According to a report from Daily Mail, The Archewell Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Harry and Meghan’s business empire, is no longer operating in its original form.

While reports initially exaggerated claims that the charity had closed its doors entirely, it was effectively replaced by a new entity called Archewell Philanthropies.

This transition was accompanied by at least four staff departures, leaving only one employee remaining.

These changes reflect a significant decline rather than an expansion. Archewell will no longer operate as an independent charity and has instead adopted a “fiscal sponsor model”.

This means that its activities must now be approved by another organization which serves as its legal framework.

This change aims to reduce administrative costs, but it has also led to an almost total collapse of the staff structure.

The biggest departure is that of James Holt, who led Archewell alongside co-executive director Shauna Nep.

As The explosion reported that Holt, who worked closely with Prince Harry and Meghan for almost a decade, is returning to the UK after leading the charity since 2021.

Speculation has swirled around Holt’s departure, with talk of visa issues and dissatisfaction with his performance.

A Sussex source claimed: “They were unhappy with his work. They were ready to let him go,” while others denied this and insisted the couple had supported Holt’s resident status.

Both sides issued warm public statements. Holt said: “From the moment I met Meghan, I recognized a kindred spirit, someone who finds joy even in difficult times and who authentically connects with people regardless of the circumstances.”

Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan responded by saying: “James has provided top-notch support to us for almost a decade… As James brings his young family back to the UK, we are proud that he continues to guide various humanitarian trips for us overseas through Archewell Philanthropies.” »

Holt’s departure follows earlier revelations from The explosion that Meredith Maines resigned from her position as communications director.

It also emerged that Archewell’s director of programs and operations, Kristen Slevin, had been fired. Slevin’s role earned him a salary of $146,000.

Despite these cuts, Archewell’s most recent accounts show spending of $5.1 million, compared to just $1.25 million distributed in grants.

The charity ended the year with a deficit of $2.5 million, with reserves falling to $8.5 million.

One insider summed up the dilemma bluntly. “The big question was would Archewell close or would another charity take over? they said

With Nep now the only remaining employee and juggling other charitable roles, including those led by Hailey Bieber and Scooter Braun, Archewell’s operational footprint has shrunk significantly.

Financial records also revealed spending patterns that drew criticism.

Archewell spent more than $1 million on “programmatic strategic support” to outside agencies, including public relations firm M&C Saatchi.

Meanwhile, grants to regions highlighted during the couple’s high-profile tours were modest, with just $10,000 for sub-Saharan Africa and $8,310 for South America, despite tours to Nigeria and Colombia.

The charity’s largest donation was $150,000 to Screen Sanity, while other grants included $25,000 to the ParentsTogether Foundation.

Although Archewell promotes causes such as online safety and mental health, insiders believe the figures reveal that a charity is struggling to balance its mission with its operating costs.