The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

Analysis

The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Dorchester. It was registered in May 1997, 29 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03362107). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending March 2026, The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society reported income of £1.0m and spending of £1.7m, spending 165% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income fell from £1.4m to £1.0m (-30%), an average of -8.6% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income dropped by 15%. Over the whole period it spent 195% of the income it received.

Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Hinckley Concordia Association (£1.0m), Science Museum Foundation (£1.0m) and Swindon Dance (£1.0m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 34%, trading 15% and donations and legacies 4.8%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £4,069. Charitable activities took 81% of spending and raising funds 0.1%. Reserves of £26k would cover about 0 months of spending at that rate. It employed 31 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.