The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain
Analysis
The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in October 1962, 64 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the prevention or relief of poverty, which this site groups under poverty relief. It says it makes grants to individuals.
In the financial year ending July 2025, The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain reported income of £1.4m and spending of £1.3m, spending 89% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to July 2025, income grew from £1.4m to £1.4m (+1.8%), an average of +0.4% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to July 2024, when income rose by 17%. Over the whole period it spent 102% of the income it received.
Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 95th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Milton Keynes Womens Aid (£1.4m), Blueprint for All (£1.4m) and Parkwill Limited (£1.4m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from investments 76%, donations and legacies 21% and trading 1.4%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £157k. Charitable activities took 73% of spending and raising funds 21%. Reserves of £567k would cover about 5 months of spending at that rate. It employed 5 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 10%
- Legacies 11%
- Trading 1.4%
- Investments 76%
- Other 1.2%
In the charity's own words
The Society, a charity for musicians run by musicians, provides grants and support to professional musicians and their families in need because of accident, illness or old age whether or not they are members. Founded in 1738 as the Fund for Decay'd Musicians, early members included Handel, Arne, Boyce and Sammartini. Today it maintains its tradition of responding swiftly to needs of colleagues.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Milton Keynes Womens Aid | Milton Keynes | £1.4m |
| Blueprint for All | London | £1.4m |
| Parkwill Limited | London | £1.4m |
| The Johnson Clergy Association (Birmingham) CIO | Stoke-On-Trent | £1.4m |