Oxfam

Analysis

Oxfam is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Oxford. It was registered in September 1965, 61 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the prevention or relief of poverty, overseas aid/famine relief and human rights/religious or racial harmony/equality or diversity, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00612172). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides other finance and provides services.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Oxfam reported income of £339.4m and spending of £362.6m, spending 107% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £344.3m to £339.4m (-1.4%), an average of -0.4% a year. Over the whole period it spent 100% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Oxfam 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 The Salvation Army Social Work Trust (£239.7m), The Ormiston Trust (£436.9m) and The Archbishops' Council (£234.9m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 38%, donations and legacies 31% and trading 29%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £19.5m. Charitable activities took 66% of spending and raising funds 34%. Grants to other organisations totalled £67.3m. Reserves of £75.7m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 4,084 people.