Orbis Charitable Trust

Analysis

Orbis Charitable Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in March 1997, 29 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives, disability and the prevention or relief of poverty, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03303689). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides human resources and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Orbis Charitable Trust reported income of £10.0m and spending of £5.9m, leaving 42% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £6.0m to £10.0m (+68%), an average of +14% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2025, when income rose by 97%. Over the whole period it spent 90% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Orbis Charitable Trust sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. 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 Health Limited (£10.0m), Broadening Choices for Older People (£10.0m) and Becht Foundation (£9.9m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 99%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1.9m. Charitable activities took 58% of spending and raising funds 41%. Grants to other organisations totalled £2.5m. Reserves of £3.0m would cover about 6 months of spending at that rate. It employed 29 people.