Global Innovation Fund
Analysis
Global Innovation Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in January 2017, 9 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the prevention or relief of poverty, overseas aid/famine relief and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 09223487). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides other finance.
In the financial year ending December 2024, Global Innovation Fund reported income of £16.6m and spending of £10.5m, leaving 37% of income unspent that year. Across the 4 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2024, income grew from £6.2m to £16.6m (+169%), an average of +39% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2024, when income rose by 204%. Over the whole period it spent 150% of the income it received.
Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Global Innovation Fund 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include African Agricultural Technology Foundation (£16.3m), The Access to Justice Foundation (£16.7m) and St Vincent de Paul Society (England and Wales) (£16.2m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 98% and investments 2.3%. Charitable activities took 74% of spending and raising funds 3.5%. Grants to other organisations totalled £2.6m. Reserves of £2.3m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate.
Data notes from the register: The regulator lists this charity's latest annual return or accounts as overdue.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 98%
- Investments 2.3%
In the charity's own words
GIF finds, funds and scales-up cost-effective, evidence-based social innovations that have the potential to measurably improve the lives of millions of people living on $5 a day or less in the developing world. GIF deploys grant and risk capital instruments to support a range of innovators across the globe to accelerate the development, rigorous testing, and scaling of innovations.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| African Agricultural Technology Foundation | 25 Old Broad Street | £16.3m |
| The Access to Justice Foundation | London | £16.7m |
| St Vincent de Paul Society (England and Wales) | West Yorkshire | £16.2m |
| The Fairtrade Foundation | London | £17.1m |