The Babraham Institute

Analysis

The Babraham Institute is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Cambridge. It was registered in March 1996, 30 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and the advancement of health or saving of lives, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03011737). It says it sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending March 2026, The Babraham Institute reported income of £48.0m and spending of £58.4m, spending 122% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income grew from £40.5m to £48.0m (+18%), an average of +4.3% a year. Over the whole period it spent 112% 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 Babraham Institute 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 Clean Air Fund (£47.6m), Acis Group Limited (£49.6m) and The Royal College of Physicians of London (£46.3m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 62%, trading 37% and investments 1.2%. Charitable activities took 65% of spending and raising funds 34%. Reserves of £18.5m would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 342 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.