The Countess Charity

Analysis

The Countess Charity is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Chester. It was registered in October 1995, 31 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the advancement of health or saving of lives, which this site groups under health and saving lives. It says it acts as an umbrella or resource body.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Countess Charity reported income of £664k and spending of £442k, leaving 33% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £727k to £664k (-8.7%), an average of -2.2% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income dropped by 20%. Over the whole period it spent 78% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, The Countess Charity sits at the 86th percentile: it is larger than about 86% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 92nd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Wycombe Women's Aid Limited (£663k), Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust Charitable Fund (£664k) and Kids Cancer Charity (£663k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 40%, trading 39% and investments 21%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £12k. Charitable activities took 51% of spending and raising funds 45%. Grants to other organisations totalled £213k. Reserves of £820k would cover about 21 months of spending at that rate. It employed 3 people.