Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation

Analysis

Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Woodstock. It was registered in March 2016, 10 years ago. Its declared purposes cover 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 09430048). It says it makes grants to organisations and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation reported income of £31.0m and spending of £27.8m, spending 90% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £17.6m to £31.0m (+76%), an average of +15% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 55%. Over the whole period it spent 85% 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, Blenheim Palace Heritage 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 The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (£30.9m), The Shakespeare Globe Trust (£31.5m) and The Lowry Centre Trust (£30.5m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from trading 52%, charitable activities 36%, donations and legacies 9.9% and investments 2.6%. Charitable activities took 58% of spending and raising funds 41%. Reserves of £28.3m would cover about 12 months of spending at that rate. It employed 538 people.