Shell Foundation

Analysis

Shell Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in June 2000, 26 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives, the prevention or relief of poverty and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04007273). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides other finance and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Shell Foundation reported income of £31.0m and spending of £45.8m, spending 148% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £18.7m to £31.0m (+66%), an average of +14% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 42%. Over the whole period it spent 120% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Shell Foundation sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Armed Forces Covenant Fund (£30.9m), Social Interest Group (£31.0m) and UK Curriculum and Accreditation Body (Ukcab) (£30.8m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 71% and investments 29%. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 2.2%. Grants to other organisations totalled £22.4m. Reserves of £17.2m would cover about 5 months of spending at that rate. It employed 42 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.