Ako Foundation
Analysis
Ako Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in April 2013, 13 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, 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 08385711). It says it makes grants to organisations.
In the financial year ending December 2025, Ako Foundation reported income of £70.2m and spending of £85.6m, spending 122% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £268.5m to £70.2m (-74%), an average of -28% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income dropped by 71%. Over the whole period it spent 43% 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, Ako Foundation sits at the 100th 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 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Wjec Cbac Limited (£66.5m), The Corporation of the Hall of Arts and Sciences (£72.1m) and Southbank Centre (£58.3m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from investments 5.2%. Charitable activities took 100% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £85.3m. Reserves of £1.27bn would cover about 178 months of spending at that rate. It employed 2 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 0.0%
- Investments 5.2%
- Other 95%
In the charity's own words
The Foundation's main activity is to make grants to UK charities and for charitable purposes elsewhere in the world. The priority areas for its grants are initiatives and projects which improve education, promote the arts and combat the climate emergency. The Foundation does not seek applications for grants and will not make grants in response to unsolicited applications received.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Wjec Cbac Limited | Cardiff | £66.5m |
| The Corporation of the Hall of Arts and Sciences | London | £72.1m |
| Southbank Centre | London | £58.3m |
| The Royal Society of Chemistry | London | £75.6m |