The Performing Right Society Foundation

Analysis

The Performing Right Society Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in May 2000, 26 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03901665). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Performing Right Society Foundation reported income of £4.5m and spending of £4.9m, spending 111% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £4.2m to £4.5m (+6.4%), an average of +1.6% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2024, when income rose by 22%. Over the whole period it spent 101% 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 Performing Right Society 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 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Culture Warrington (£4.5m), Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration (£4.5m) and The Criterion Theatre Trust (£4.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 91%, charitable activities 6.1% and investments 1.7%. Charitable activities took 96% of spending and raising funds 3.7%. Grants to other organisations totalled £1.8m. Reserves of £86k would cover about 0 months of spending at that rate. It employed 14 people.