The Downforce Trust

Analysis

The Downforce Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Oxford. It was registered in January 2020, 6 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides other finance.

In the financial year ending January 2026, The Downforce Trust reported income of £1.2m and spending of £665k, leaving 45% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from January 2022 to January 2026, income grew from £600k to £1.2m (+101%), an average of +19% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to January 2025, when income rose by 148%. Over the whole period it spent 37% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The Downforce Trust sits at the 94th percentile: it is larger than about 94% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust (£1.2m), Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre (£1.2m) and The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country Ltd (£1.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 83%, charitable activities 8.6% and investments 8.5%. Charitable activities took 100% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £3.2m would cover about 57 months of spending at that rate. It employed 3 people.