The Warden and Scholars of the House or College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford

Analysis

The Warden and Scholars of the House or College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Oxford. It was registered in November 2010, 16 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, which this site groups under education and training. It says it makes grants to individuals, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending July 2025, The Warden and Scholars of the House or College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford reported income of £20.4m and spending of £24.0m, spending 118% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to July 2025, income grew from £13.8m to £20.4m (+47%), an average of +10% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to July 2023, when income rose by 28%. Over the whole period it spent 112% of the income it received.

Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, The Warden and Scholars of the House or College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford 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 Worcester College, Oxford (£20.3m), Quadram Institute Bioscience (£20.4m) and Fitzwilliam College in the University of Cambridge (£20.3m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from investments 42%, charitable activities 36%, donations and legacies 16% and trading 3.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £340k. Charitable activities took 76% of spending and raising funds 13%. Grants to other organisations totalled £153k. Reserves of £5.7m would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 153 people.