Organisation Cetacea
Analysis
Organisation Cetacea is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Portsmouth. It was registered in May 2011, 15 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 07463043). It says it provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending December 2025, Organisation Cetacea reported income of £842k and spending of £794k, spending 94% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £373k to £842k (+126%), an average of +23% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 70%. Over the whole period it spent 97% of the income it received.
Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Organisation Cetacea sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 93rd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Community Action: MK (£841k), The Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust (£846k) and Colchester and North East Essex Building Preservation Trust (£839k).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 54% and donations and legacies 45%. Charitable activities took 74% of spending and raising funds 26%. Reserves of £224k would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 19 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 45%
- Charitable activities 54%
- Trading 0.7%
- Investments 0.4%
In the charity's own words
ORCA works to protect whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans) in UK and European waters. We promote the conservation of cetaceans in particular by educating the public and raising awareness of the need for their protection and their natural habitat. We also conduct scientifc research into whale and dolphin habitat, population and distribution.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Community Action: MK | Milton Keynes | £841k |
| The Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust | Leicestershire | £846k |
| Colchester and North East Essex Building Preservation Trust | Great Tey | £839k |
| Vulcan to the Sky Trust | Auckley | £847k |