The Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Analysis

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in July 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under community and economic development. It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides human resources.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Institution of Mechanical Engineers reported income of £28.3m and spending of £29.0m, spending 103% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £22.6m to £28.3m (+25%), an average of +5.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 27%. Over the whole period it spent 100% of the income it received.

Among 1,869 England and Wales charities whose main cause is community and economic development and that reported income, The Institution of Mechanical Engineers 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 Impetus - the Private Equity Foundation (£24.1m), Community Security Trust (£35.0m) and The Education and Training Foundation (£20.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 74%, trading 19%, investments 3.7% and donations and legacies 1.1%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £4,555. Charitable activities took 71% of spending and raising funds 15%. Grants to other organisations totalled £293k. Reserves of £7.7m would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 197 people.