The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

Analysis

The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in November 2004, 22 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, animals and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 04918382). It says it makes grants to organisations and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending March 2026, The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation reported income of £2.2m and spending of £2.0m, spending 91% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income grew from £1.6m to £2.2m (+36%), an average of +8.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2026, when income rose by 74%. Over the whole period it spent 93% of the income it received.

Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation 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 96th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Ferne Animal Sanctuary (£2.2m), Dogs Trust Legacy (£2.2m) and The Wildlife Aid Foundation (£2.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 74%, trading 24% and investments 2.0%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £516k. Charitable activities took 77% of spending and raising funds 22%. Grants to other organisations totalled £818k. Reserves of £637k would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 16 people.