Philharmonia Ltd
Analysis
Philharmonia Ltd is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in November 1966, 60 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 00799297). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides services and other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending August 2025, Philharmonia Ltd reported income of £11.1m and spending of £10.7m, spending 97% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income fell from £12.9m to £11.1m (-14%), an average of -3.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2022, when income dropped by 33%. Over the whole period it spent 90% 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, Philharmonia Ltd sits at the 99th 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (£11.0m), Newport Live (£11.2m) and Energy Institute (£11.0m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 53%, donations and legacies 27% and trading 1.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £523k. Charitable activities took 94% of spending and raising funds 5.9%. Reserves of £4.7m would cover about 5 months of spending at that rate. It employed 40 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 22%
- Legacies 4.7%
- Charitable activities 53%
- Trading 1.3%
- Investments 0.9%
- Other 18%
In the charity's own words
The charitable objectives are the advancement of public education through the promotion and support of the art of music, particularly by the promotion and encouragement of orchestral music and the relief of povertyand distress amongst playing members of any symphony orchestra for the time being maintained by the Charity. We achieve this by maintaining a symphony orchestra of the highest quality.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol | Sir Gaerfyrddin | £11.0m |
| Newport Live | Gwent | £11.2m |
| Energy Institute | London | £11.0m |
| The Friends of the Royal Academy | London | £11.4m |