American Museum & Gardens
Analysis
American Museum & Gardens is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Bath. It was registered in November 2004, 22 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 05282777). It says it provides human resources, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides advocacy/advice/information.
In the financial year ending December 2025, American Museum & Gardens reported income of £1.6m and spending of £2.4m, spending 145% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £1.7m to £1.6m (-2.1%), an average of -0.5% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2025, when income dropped by 38%. Over the whole period it spent 144% 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, American Museum & Gardens sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 96% 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 National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies (£1.6m), The Friends of the British Library (£1.6m) and Stockport Plaza Trust Limited (£1.6m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 37%, charitable activities 35%, investments 18% and trading 10%. Charitable activities took 86% of spending and raising funds 9.6%. Grants to other organisations totalled £1,485. Reserves of £290k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 40 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.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 37%
- Charitable activities 35%
- Trading 10%
- Investments 18%
In the charity's own words
The mission of the American Museum is to educate, stimulate, and inspire its visitors in order to further the understanding of American history and culture. The Museum carries out this mission through the presentation of its historic rooms, its decorative art and folk art collections, and its special exhibitions, publications, educational programmes, and gardens.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies | London | £1.6m |
| The Friends of the British Library | London | £1.6m |
| Stockport Plaza Trust Limited | Stockport | £1.6m |
| Alt Valley Community Trust Limited | Liverpool | £1.6m |