The Wow Foundation

Analysis

The Wow Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in June 2020, 6 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and human rights/religious or racial harmony/equality or diversity, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 11355846). It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending May 2025, The Wow Foundation reported income of £1.3m and spending of £1.2m, spending 90% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from May 2021 to May 2025, income grew from £941k to £1.3m (+40%), an average of +8.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to May 2025, when income rose by 29%. Over the whole period it spent 97% 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, The Wow Foundation sits at the 96th percentile: it is larger than about 96% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 95th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Colwinston Charitable Trust (£1.3m), Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust (£1.3m) and Cockpit Arts (£1.3m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 66%, trading 19% and charitable activities 16%. Charitable activities took 89% of spending and raising funds 8.9%. Reserves of £97k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 10 people.