Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts

Analysis

Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Newark. It was registered in September 1962, 64 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. It says it makes grants to organisations, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts reported income of £43.7m and spending of £30.4m, leaving 30% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £18.1m to £43.7m (+142%), an average of +25% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 43%. Over the whole period it spent 82% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts 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 Marine Stewardship Council (£33.7m), Clientearth (£44.1m) and The Waste and Resources Action Programme (£28.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 72%, donations and legacies 24%, investments 2.0% and trading 1.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £905k. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 2.4%. Grants to other organisations totalled £18.0m. Reserves of £2.4m would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 134 people.