The Edward James Foundation Limited

Analysis

The Edward James Foundation Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in West Sussex. It was registered in September 2008, 18 years ago. Its declared purposes cover 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 06689362). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides human resources and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending September 2025, The Edward James Foundation Limited reported income of £15.1m and spending of £19.2m, spending 128% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2021 to September 2025, income grew from £8.0m to £15.1m (+88%), an average of +17% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to September 2022, when income rose by 66%. Over the whole period it spent 126% 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 Edward James Foundation Limited sits at the 99th 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Leeds Heritage Theatres (£14.9m), Birmingham Repertory Theatre Limited (£15.3m) and The Serpentine Trust (£14.8m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 63%, investments 21%, trading 13% and donations and legacies 1.8%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £58k. Charitable activities took 74% of spending and raising funds 25%. Reserves of £4.4m would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 270 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.