The Institute of Ismaili Studies
Analysis
The Institute of Ismaili Studies is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in July 2018, 8 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, which this site groups under education and training. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01324858). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending December 2025, The Institute of Ismaili Studies reported income of £21.4m and spending of £21.4m, spending 100% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £15.7m to £21.4m (+36%), an average of +8.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 18%. Over the whole period it spent 101% of the income it received.
Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, The Institute of Ismaili Studies sits at the 99th 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 City Literary Institute (£21.3m), Master Fellows and Scholars of Pembroke College (£21.4m) and Homerton College Cambridge (£21.2m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 100%. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £985k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 136 people.
Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 100%
- Other 0.2%
In the charity's own words
The objects of the Institute are to assist in the advancement of education and learning. Its aims include to encourage, extend, increase, disseminate and promote knowledge of, and to promote, conduct and support research into the religious, spiritual and cultural heritage of the Shia Imami Ismaili Tariqah of Islam and to conduct and support research of other religious faiths, beliefs or practices.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The City Literary Institute | London | £21.3m |
| Master Fellows and Scholars of Pembroke College | Oxford | £21.4m |
| Homerton College Cambridge | Cambridge | £21.2m |
| Kimbolton School | Huntingdon | £21.5m |