Ellen Macarthur Foundation

Analysis

Ellen Macarthur Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Cowes. It was registered in June 2009, 17 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under community and economic development. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 06897785). It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending August 2025, Ellen Macarthur Foundation reported income of £14.0m and spending of £20.3m, spending 145% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income fell from £18.1m to £14.0m (-23%), an average of -6.3% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2024, when income dropped by 30%. Over the whole period it spent 108% of the income it received.

Among 1,869 England and Wales charities whose main cause is community and economic development and that reported income, Ellen Macarthur Foundation 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 Fusion21 Foundation (£13.5m), Career Connect (£14.2m) and The Institute for Fiscal Studies (£13.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 50%, trading 47% and investments 3.0%. Charitable activities took 70% of spending and raising funds 3.2%. Reserves of £5.9m would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 182 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.