The Koestler Trust

Analysis

The Koestler Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in September 2004, 22 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04961363). It says it provides services and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Koestler Trust reported income of £964k and spending of £962k, spending 100% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £1.4m to £964k (-31%), an average of -9.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income dropped by 43%. Over the whole period it spent 76% 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 Koestler Trust sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Leeds International Piano Competition (£960k), PK Porthcurno (£969k) and New Curators (£959k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 94%, trading 4.6% and investments 1.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £46k. Charitable activities took 87% of spending and raising funds 12%. Reserves of £260k would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 14 people.