The Martin Bequest

Analysis

The Martin Bequest is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Darlington. It was registered in November 2008, 18 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides other finance.

In the financial year ending October 2025, The Martin Bequest reported income of £15k and spending of £15k, spending 103% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from October 2021 to October 2025, income grew from £2,830 to £15k (+419%), an average of +51% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to October 2023, when income rose by 187%. Over the whole period it spent 168% 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 Martin Bequest sits at the 41st percentile: it is larger than about 41% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 38th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Brighouse Theatre Productions (£15k), Friends of the Ferens Art Gallery (£15k) and Reading Civic Society (£15k).

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.