The Royal Society of Chemistry

Analysis

The Royal Society of Chemistry is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in December 1963, 63 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. It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides services.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Royal Society of Chemistry reported income of £75.6m and spending of £88.7m, spending 117% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £63.7m to £75.6m (+19%), an average of +4.4% a year. Over the whole period it spent 114% 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, The Royal Society of Chemistry 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 Corporation of the Hall of Arts and Sciences (£72.1m), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (£76.7m) and Ako Foundation (£70.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 95%, investments 3.2% and trading 1.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £126k. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 2.1%. Reserves of £60.4m would cover about 8 months of spending at that rate. It employed 739 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.