The South American Mission Society

Analysis

The South American Mission Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Oxford. It was registered in July 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives, the prevention or relief of poverty and religious activities, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00065048). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides human resources.

In the financial year ending January 2025, The South American Mission Society reported income of £622k and spending of £870k, spending 140% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from January 2021 to January 2025, income fell from £759k to £622k (-18%), an average of -4.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to January 2024, when income rose by 182%. Over the whole period it spent 82% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, The South American Mission Society sits at the 85th percentile: it is larger than about 85% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Advocacy Services North East Wales (£622k), The Hangleton & Knoll Project (£622k) and The Pepper Foundation (£621k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 72%, donations and legacies 8.8% and investments 3.4%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £25k. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £1.1m would cover about 15 months of spending at that rate. It employed 22 people.