Lighten Education Network

Analysis

Lighten Education Network is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in May 2022, 4 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under education and training. Legally it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It says it makes grants to organisations.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Lighten Education Network reported income of £33.1m and spending of £15.0m, leaving 55% of income unspent that year. Across the 3 years on record, from March 2023 to March 2025, income grew from £4.9m to £33.1m (+583%), an average of +161% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income rose by 325%. Over the whole period it spent 53% of the income it received.

Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, Lighten Education Network 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 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Ambition Institute (£33.1m), Royal Academy of Music (£33.2m) and St Albans Education Group (£33.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 100%. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £11.1m. Reserves of £21.7m would cover about 17 months of spending at that rate. It employed 13 people.