Third Order, Society of Saint Francis

Analysis

Third Order, Society of Saint Francis is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Reading. It was registered in September 1997, 29 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty, overseas aid/famine relief and religious activities, which this site groups under poverty relief. It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides services.

In the financial year ending May 2025, Third Order, Society of Saint Francis reported income of £158k and spending of £171k, spending 109% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from May 2021 to May 2025, income grew from £118k to £158k (+34%), an average of +7.6% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to May 2022, when income rose by 63%. Over the whole period it spent 89% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Third Order, Society of Saint Francis sits at the 73rd percentile: it is larger than about 73% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 78th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Frea (£158k), City Church (Great Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire) (£158k) and Mari Girgis Trust (£158k).