Africa Research Excellence Fund
Analysis
Africa Research Excellence Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in March 2021, 5 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and the advancement of health or saving of lives, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 13219209). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides advocacy/advice/information.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Africa Research Excellence Fund reported income of £1.0m and spending of £2.3m, spending 228% of what it took in. Across the 4 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2025, income fell from £5.1m to £1.0m (-80%), an average of -42% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 703%. Over the whole period it spent 60% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Africa Research Excellence Fund sits at the 89th percentile: it is larger than about 89% 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 York Mind (Incorporating Our Celebration) Ltd (£1.0m), Oglesby Charitable Trust (£1.0m) and World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (£1.0m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 88% and investments 11%. Charitable activities took 95% of spending and raising funds 4.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £1.3m. Reserves of £930k would cover about 5 months of spending at that rate. It employed 17 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 88%
- Charitable activities 0.8%
- Investments 11%
In the charity's own words
The Africa Research Excellence Fund promotes medical research in Africa for the public benefit by providing education and training opportunities for individuals who are citizens of a country in Africa and are aspiring to, or have already embarked on, a career in medical research in Africa. The charity hosts training programmes and provides grants to support the development of research skills.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| York Mind (Incorporating Our Celebration) Ltd | York | £1.0m |
| Oglesby Charitable Trust | Manchester | £1.0m |
| World Council of Enterostomal Therapists | 01719 | £1.0m |
| The SHM Foundation | London | £1.0m |