Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
Analysis
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Gloucester. It was registered in December 1993, 33 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, animals and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02882729). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reported income of £46.8m and spending of £32.1m, leaving 31% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £20.9m to £46.8m (+124%), an average of +22% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 48%. Over the whole period it spent 89% of the income it received.
Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Fauna & Flora International (£44.8m), Blue Cross (£50.3m) and Birdlife International (£37.0m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 54%, charitable activities 32% and trading 11%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £3.5m. Charitable activities took 75% of spending and raising funds 24%. Grants to other organisations totalled £355k. It employed 599 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 46%
- Legacies 7.5%
- Charitable activities 32%
- Trading 11%
- Investments 0.8%
- Other 1.3%
In the charity's own words
WWT works to save wetlands for wildlife and for people by inspiring people to connect with and value wetlands and their wildlife, by demonstrating and promoting the importance and benefits of wetlands, by countering threats to wetlands and their wildlife, by creating and restoring wetlands and protecting key wetland sites and by savings threatened wetlands species.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Fauna & Flora International | Cambridge | £44.8m |
| Blue Cross | Burford | £50.3m |
| Birdlife International | Cambridge | £37.0m |
| Virunga Foundation | London | £53.8m |