The New Phytologist Foundation
Analysis
The New Phytologist Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Lancaster. It was registered in December 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 08789102). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides human resources.
In the financial year ending December 2025, The New Phytologist Foundation reported income of £2.5m and spending of £2.0m, leaving 22% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £1.4m to £2.5m (+84%), an average of +16% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 24%. Over the whole period it spent 83% 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 New Phytologist Foundation sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% 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 The Aspect Foundation for Music and Arts (£2.5m), Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust Ltd (£2.5m) and The Arts Depot Trust Limited (£2.5m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 96% and investments 4.4%. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 0.9%. Grants to other organisations totalled £540k. Reserves of £5.5m would cover about 33 months of spending at that rate. It employed 13 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Charitable activities 96%
- Investments 4.4%
In the charity's own words
TO PROMOTE PLANT SCIENCE BY PUBLISHING LEARNED JOURNALS, INCLUDING NEW PHYTOLOGIST. FUNDING EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE BROAD AREA OF PLANT SCIENCES. SUPPORTING DEFINED GROUPS AND MAKING GRANTS TO ORGANISATIONS THAT FALL WITHIN THE GENERAL REMIT OF THE TRUST.SPONSORING SYMPOSIA AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS WITH THEMES RELEVANT TO THE WORK OF THE TRUST.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Aspect Foundation for Music and Arts | London | £2.5m |
| Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust Ltd | Tamworth | £2.5m |
| The Arts Depot Trust Limited | London | £2.5m |
| Bristol Aero Collection Trust | Bristol | £2.5m |