The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Analysis

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Stratford-Upon-Avon. It was registered in February 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it makes grants to individuals, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust reported income of £8.7m and spending of £10.4m, spending 120% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £3.2m to £8.7m (+173%), an average of +28% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 81%. Over the whole period it spent 124% 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 Shakespeare Birthplace Trust sits at the 99th 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Regent's Park Theatre Limited (£8.7m), Nottingham Playhouse Trust Limited (£8.7m) and The English Stage Company Limited (£8.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 56%, investments 12%, donations and legacies 7.7% and trading 4.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £62k. Charitable activities took 76% of spending and raising funds 23%. Reserves of £3.3m would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 155 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.