The Dean Close Foundation

Analysis

The Dean Close Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Cheltenham. It was registered in May 2001, 25 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, which this site groups under education and training. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04193948). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides human resources and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending August 2025, The Dean Close Foundation reported income of £63.8m and spending of £35.5m, leaving 44% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £25.3m to £63.8m (+152%), an average of +26% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2025, when income rose by 92%. Over the whole period it spent 84% of the income it received.

Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, The Dean Close Foundation sits at the 100th 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 The University of Buckingham (£62.8m), Charterhouse School (£64.8m) and Leeds Trinity University (£61.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 45%, charitable activities 42% and trading 12%. Charitable activities took 80% of spending and raising funds 19%. Reserves of £40.3m would cover about 14 months of spending at that rate. It employed 848 people.