The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies

Analysis

The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in October 1962, 64 years ago. Its declared purposes cover other charitable purposes, which this site groups under other charitable purposes. It says it provides services, sponsors or undertakes research and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies reported income of £16.6m and spending of £16.6m, spending 100% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £11.1m to £16.6m (+49%), an average of +10% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 38%. Over the whole period it spent 92% of the income it received.

Among 1,463 England and Wales charities whose main cause is other charitable purposes and that reported income, The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Pennies Foundation (£16.4m), Charity Assets Trust (£17.3m) and The British Psychological Society (£13.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 85%, donations and legacies 9.8% and trading 5.0%. Charitable activities took 93% of spending and raising funds 6.1%. Reserves of £5.0m would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 113 people.