The Royal African Society

Analysis

The Royal African Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in June 1997, 29 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and acts as an umbrella or resource body.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Royal African Society reported income of £581k and spending of £568k, spending 98% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £651k to £581k (-11%), an average of -2.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 59%. Over the whole period it spent 111% 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 Royal African Society sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Full House Theatre (£581k), Theatrical Educational Services Limited (£581k) and Hornsey Historical Society (£580k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 79% and donations and legacies 21%. Charitable activities took 89% of spending and raising funds 10%. Reserves of £8,448 would cover about 0 months of spending at that rate. It employed 6 people.