The Fairtrade Foundation
Analysis
The Fairtrade Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in February 1995, 31 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the prevention or relief of poverty, overseas aid/famine relief and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02733136). It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending December 2025, The Fairtrade Foundation reported income of £17.1m and spending of £17.2m, spending 101% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £11.5m to £17.1m (+48%), an average of +10% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2025, when income rose by 28%. Over the whole period it spent 102% of the income it received.
Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, The Fairtrade Foundation 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Access to Justice Foundation (£16.7m), Clarion Futures (£17.2m) and Global Innovation Fund (£16.6m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 99%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £5,000. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 1.6%. Grants to other organisations totalled £544k. Reserves of £4.9m would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 113 people.
Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 0.8%
- Legacies 0.0%
- Charitable activities 99%
- Trading 0.2%
- Investments 0.2%
In the charity's own words
The Fairtrade Foundation seeks to 1. Providing an independent certification of the trade supply chain, with the FAIRTRADE Mark as the consumer guarantee.2. Facilitating the market so that producers can sell to traders and retailers in order that the market for Fairtrade grows.3.Awareness-raising among consumers of the need for Fairtrade and the importance of the FAIRTRADE Mark.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Access to Justice Foundation | London | £16.7m |
| Clarion Futures | London | £17.2m |
| Global Innovation Fund | London | £16.6m |
| Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines | Edinburgh | £17.7m |