Society of Genealogists

Analysis

Society of Genealogists is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in May 1964, 62 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00115703). It says it sponsors or undertakes research and acts as an umbrella or resource body.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Society of Genealogists reported income of £768k and spending of £1.3m, spending 168% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £2.5m to £768k (-69%), an average of -26% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income dropped by 62%. Over the whole period it spent 96% 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, Society of Genealogists sits at the 94th percentile: it is larger than about 94% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 92nd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include London Handel Society Limited (£768k), London School of Mosaic (£769k) and Tangled Feet Limited (£767k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 57%, investments 12% and donations and legacies 2.8%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £16k. Charitable activities took 94% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £2.4m would cover about 21 months of spending at that rate. It employed 17 people.

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.