The Mainstay Foundation
Analysis
The Mainstay Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in March 2016, 10 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives, the prevention or relief of poverty and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending March 2025, The Mainstay Foundation reported income of £5.7m and spending of £5.1m, spending 90% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £2.8m to £5.7m (+107%), an average of +20% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 61%. Over the whole period it spent 95% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, The Mainstay 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 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Treetops Hospice Trust (£5.7m), The Eranda Rothschild Foundation (£5.7m) and The Linbury Trust (£5.7m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 98% and charitable activities 1.7%. Charitable activities took 100% of spending and raising funds 0.1%. Grants to other organisations totalled £4.3m. Reserves of £1.8m would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 13 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 98%
- Charitable activities 1.7%
- Investments 0.7%
In the charity's own words
The Mainstay Foundation primarily awards grants to organisations to assist them in their activities in line with the objectives of the charity. The objective of the charity is to assist the advancement of Shia Muslim communities globally in the areas of Religion, Education and Development. The Mainstay Foundation also establish some initiatives, such as events, in line with its objectives.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Treetops Hospice Trust | Derby | £5.7m |
| The Eranda Rothschild Foundation | London | £5.7m |
| The Linbury Trust | London | £5.7m |
| Queenscourt Hospice | Southport | £5.8m |