Royal Commonwealth Society
Analysis
Royal Commonwealth Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in November 1964, 62 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science, environment/conservation/heritage and human rights/religious or racial harmony/equality or diversity, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it provides advocacy/advice/information, sponsors or undertakes research and other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Royal Commonwealth Society reported income of £226k and spending of £264k, spending 116% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £349k to £226k (-35%), an average of -10% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income dropped by 30%. Over the whole period it spent 91% 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, Royal Commonwealth Society 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 Society of Research Software Engineering (£226k), Women's Institutes - Gloucestershire Federation (£226k) and Kakilang (£225k).
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Other 100%
In the charity's own words
Through youth empowerment, education and high-level advocacy, the RCS champions the importance of literacy, equality and inclusion, the environment and connected communities in the Commonwealth. Non-partisan and independent, we convene and connect Commonwealth political and diplomatic representatives, as well as industry, civil society, academic and business leaders, on a wide range of issues.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Society of Research Software Engineering | London | £226k |
| Women's Institutes - Gloucestershire Federation | Glos | £226k |
| Kakilang | London | £225k |
| Castle Park Arts Centre Limited | Frodsham | £227k |