York Minster Fund

Analysis

York Minster Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in York. It was registered in April 1967, 59 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending December 2025, York Minster Fund reported income of £1.4m and spending of £1.7m, spending 116% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £2.7m to £1.4m (-47%), an average of -14% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2024, when income rose by 173%. Over the whole period it spent 183% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, York Minster Fund 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 95th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Colchester Archaeological Trust Limited (£1.4m), The Institute of Quarrying (£1.4m) and The Welsh Water Elan Trust (£1.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 79% and investments 13%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £242k. Charitable activities took 94% of spending and raising funds 4.1%. Grants to other organisations totalled £1.3m. Reserves of £114k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 4 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.