The Wheler Foundation
Analysis
The Wheler Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Harrogate. It was registered in July 1992, 34 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, environment/conservation/heritage and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under environment and conservation. It says it makes grants to individuals and makes grants to organisations.
In the financial year ending April 2025, The Wheler Foundation reported income of £1.6m and spending of £1.5m, spending 94% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from April 2021 to April 2025, income grew from £1.2m to £1.6m (+37%), an average of +8.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to April 2025, when income rose by 26%. Over the whole period it spent 378% of the income it received.
Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The Wheler Foundation sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 96th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust (£1.6m), Woodland Heritage Limited (£1.7m) and Wild Fish Conservation (£1.6m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 79%, trading 19% and investments 1.6%. Charitable activities took 81% of spending and raising funds 16%. Grants to other organisations totalled £25k. It employed 2 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Charitable activities 79%
- Trading 19%
- Investments 1.6%
- Other 0.3%
In the charity's own words
The maintenance and preservation of lands and buildings of historic, educational or landscape value for the benefit of the public, whether or not educational. Encouragement or assistance to agriculture, forestry and rural industry for the benefit of the public, whether or not educational. The making of gifts or donations to charitable bodies where perceived to promote the objects of the Trust.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust | Cambridge | £1.6m |
| Woodland Heritage Limited | Hereford | £1.7m |
| Wild Fish Conservation | Andover | £1.6m |
| Friends of the Lake District | Kendal | £1.7m |