The Borrow Foundation

Analysis

The Borrow Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Hampshire. It was registered in January 1997, 29 years ago. Its declared purposes cover 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 03303900). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Borrow Foundation reported income of £27.0m and spending of £1.9m, leaving 93% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £1.8m to £27.0m (+1397%), an average of +97% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 1387%. Over the whole period it spent 24% 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 Borrow Foundation sits at the 99th 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 The Wolfson Foundation (£26.9m), Christian Vision (£27.2m) and Acorns Children's Hospice Trust (£26.8m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from trading 4.9% and investments 2.1%. Charitable activities took 60% of spending and raising funds 38%. Grants to other organisations totalled £715k. Reserves of £25.1m would cover about 154 months of spending at that rate. It employed 10 people.