Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Analysis

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in West Sussex. It was registered in July 1964, 62 years ago. Its declared purposes cover animals, which this site groups under animals. It says it makes grants to organisations, provides human resources and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reported income of £171.5m and spending of £185.2m, spending 108% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £151.8m to £171.5m (+13%), an average of +3.1% a year. Over the whole period it spent 96% of the income it received.

Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 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 Cats Protection (£105.6m), Dogs Trust (£172.3m) and The Zoological Society of London (£92.7m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 88%, charitable activities 5.3%, trading 2.8% and investments 2.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £85.0m. Charitable activities took 81% of spending and raising funds 18%. Grants to other organisations totalled £6.1m. Reserves of £120.4m would cover about 8 months of spending at that rate. It employed 1,878 people.