Cancer Research Wales

Analysis

Cancer Research Wales is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Cardiff. It was registered in May 2016, 10 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the advancement of health or saving of lives, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It says it makes grants to organisations and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending March 2026, Cancer Research Wales reported income of £5.9m and spending of £6.2m, spending 104% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income grew from £2.2m to £5.9m (+165%), an average of +28% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 68%. Over the whole period it spent 96% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Cancer Research Wales 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 Lepra (£5.9m), Supportive SRC Ltd (£5.9m) and Tres Cantos Open Lab Foundation (£5.9m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 48%, trading 45% and investments 4.6%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £2.5m. Charitable activities took 63% of spending and raising funds 37%. Grants to other organisations totalled £2.9m. Reserves of £6.2m would cover about 12 months of spending at that rate. It employed 61 people.