The Royal Society of Literature of the United Kingdom

Analysis

The Royal Society of Literature of the United Kingdom is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in January 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it makes grants to individuals, provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Royal Society of Literature of the United Kingdom reported income of £217k and spending of £623k, spending 287% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £290k to £217k (-25%), an average of -7.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 330%. Over the whole period it spent 129% 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 Literature of the United Kingdom sits at the 86th percentile: it is larger than about 86% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 82nd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Curwen Print Study Centre (£217k), King's Own Royal Border Regiment Museum Fund (£218k) and The Arts Catalyst (£217k).

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.