Global Witness Trust
Analysis
Global Witness Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in February 2007, 19 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, environment/conservation/heritage and human rights/religious or racial harmony/equality or diversity, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 05883832). It says it makes grants to organisations.
In the financial year ending December 2025, Global Witness Trust reported income of £2.5m and spending of £2.5m, spending 100% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £1.2m to £2.5m (+114%), an average of +21% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 51%. Over the whole period it spent 100% of the income it received.
Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Global Witness Trust sits at the 96th percentile: it is larger than about 96% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Arkwright Society Limited (£2.5m), Bioregional Development Group (£2.5m) and Talyllyn Holdings Limited (£2.5m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 96% and donations and legacies 4.3%. Charitable activities took 100% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £2.5m. Reserves of £31k would cover about 0 months of spending at that rate.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 4.3%
- Charitable activities 96%
In the charity's own words
To advance the education of the public in environmental matters, the preservation and conservation of the natural environment and its sustainable development; andTo carry out or promote research into the maintenance and observance of human rights in places where there may have been an impact on the human rights of the inhabitants as a consequence of environmental damage
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Arkwright Society Limited | Derbyshire | £2.5m |
| Bioregional Development Group | London | £2.5m |
| Talyllyn Holdings Limited | Gwynedd | £2.5m |
| Earth Trust | Abingdon | £2.6m |