The National Federation of Music Societies

Analysis

The National Federation of Music Societies is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in June 1967, 59 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00308632). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The National Federation of Music Societies reported income of £936k and spending of £876k, spending 94% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £721k to £936k (+30%), an average of +6.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 32%. Over the whole period it spent 95% 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 National Federation of Music Societies sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 93rd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Buckinghamshire County Museum Trust (£935k), Sands School (£936k) and Royal Agricultural Society of England (£934k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 84%, donations and legacies 8.3%, investments 4.1% and trading 3.8%. Charitable activities took 96% of spending and raising funds 1.9%. Grants to other organisations totalled £12k. Reserves of £170k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 19 people.