The Mansion House Fund Central Committee, Cape Town was organised by Lord Milner at the outbreak of the war for the purpose of encouraging the formation of relief committees in the various towns to which refugees were sent and for the purpose of organising a uniform system of relief and a standard scale of expenditure. Under the direction of Lord Milner, the committee granted sums in aid of the various committees so formed after they had collected as much money locally as was possible. The various committees supplied through the central committee with funds relieved the class of persons who at the outset of the war had no funds.

The Imperial Relief Fund came into existence in December 1900, being supplied with funds by the imperial government for the relief of those refugees who ultimately would be able to return the money advanced to them. The funds were administered under the direction of Lord Milner and a consultative committee at Johannesburg, by the Cape Town Committee.