The Royal Institution of Cornwall

Analysis

The Royal Institution of Cornwall is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Truro. It was registered in February 2013, 13 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 08362598). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Royal Institution of Cornwall reported income of £3.1m and spending of £2.5m, leaving 21% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £514k to £3.1m (+508%), an average of +57% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 137%. Over the whole period it spent 82% 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, The Royal Institution of Cornwall sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Customs House Trust Limited (£3.1m), Museum of Modern Art Limited (£3.1m) and Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust (£3.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 88%, charitable activities 5.3%, investments 3.9% and trading 2.5%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1,081. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 1.8%. Reserves of £360k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 24 people.