The Born Free Foundation

Analysis

The Born Free Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Horsham. It was registered in August 1998, 28 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, animals and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03603432). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides human resources and provides services.

In the financial year ending March 2026, The Born Free Foundation reported income of £7.8m and spending of £7.4m, spending 95% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income grew from £6.1m to £7.8m (+27%), an average of +6.2% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 25%. Over the whole period it spent 97% of the income it received.

Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, The Born Free Foundation 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 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) Foundation (£7.7m), Three Counties Agricultural Society (£8.0m) and Cornwall Wildlife Trust (£7.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 92%, trading 4.9% and investments 1.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £3.5m. Charitable activities took 72% of spending and raising funds 26%. Grants to other organisations totalled £525k. Reserves of £4.8m would cover about 8 months of spending at that rate. It employed 142 people.