Purposeful Ventures

Analysis

Purposeful Ventures is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in September 2023, 3 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides services and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending August 2025, Purposeful Ventures reported income of £17.3m and spending of £16.2m, spending 94% of its income. Across the 2 years on record, from August 2024 to August 2025, income fell from £22.5m to £17.3m (-23%), an average of -23% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2025, when income dropped by 23%. Over the whole period it spent 72% 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, Purposeful Ventures 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Design Museum (£17.2m), Welsh National Opera Limited (£18.0m) and North Music Trust (£17.0m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 97% and investments 2.4%. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 1.8%. Grants to other organisations totalled £8.3m. Reserves of £2.2m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 42 people.