Science Museum Foundation

Analysis

Science Museum Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in August 2012, 14 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 08156772). It says it makes grants to organisations.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Science Museum Foundation reported income of £1.0m and spending of £3.7m, spending 365% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £604k to £1.0m (+67%), an average of +14% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 1914%. Over the whole period it spent 159% 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, Science Museum Foundation sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (£1.0m), Colchester Arts Centre (£1.0m) and The Hinckley Concordia Association (£1.0m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from investments 97% and donations and legacies 2.5%. Charitable activities took 95% of spending and raising funds 4.5%. Grants to other organisations totalled £3.5m. Reserves of £665k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate.

Data notes from the register: The latest annual return was received after its deadline.