Army Benevolent Fund

Analysis

Army Benevolent Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in March 2012, 14 years ago. Its declared purposes cover armed forces/emergency service efficiency, which this site groups under armed forces, emergency and public safety. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 07974609). It says it makes grants to individuals and makes grants to organisations.

In the financial year ending March 2026, Army Benevolent Fund reported income of £13.7m and spending of £16.9m, spending 123% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income grew from £11.2m to £13.7m (+23%), an average of +5.3% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 154%. Over the whole period it spent 85% of the income it received.

Among 200 England and Wales charities whose main cause is armed forces, emergency and public safety and that reported income, Army Benevolent Fund sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. 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 The Royal Air Force Club (£13.1m), The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (£16.2m) and Police Now (£11.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 57%, trading 24% and investments 19%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £2.5m. Charitable activities took 56% of spending and raising funds 43%. Reserves of £104.1m would cover about 73 months of spending at that rate. It employed 90 people.