The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge (Commonly Known As the Royal Society)

Analysis

The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge (Commonly Known As the Royal Society) is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in January 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under education and training. It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides other finance.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge (Commonly Known As the Royal Society) reported income of £157.6m and spending of £151.5m, spending 96% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £136.2m to £157.6m (+16%), an average of +3.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 183%. Over the whole period it spent 74% of the income it received.

Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge (Commonly Known As the Royal Society) 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 Prifysgol Aberystwyth (£127.4m), Bangor University (£160.4m) and The Leverhulme Trust (£124.5m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 86% and investments 14%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £90k. Charitable activities took 96% of spending and raising funds 2.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £3.3m. Reserves of £35.8m would cover about 3 months of spending at that rate. It employed 291 people.