The Institute for Fiscal Studies

Analysis

The Institute for Fiscal Studies is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in June 1969, 57 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and economic/community development/employment, which this site groups under community and economic development. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00954616). It says it provides advocacy/advice/information and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Institute for Fiscal Studies reported income of £13.1m and spending of £12.1m, spending 92% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £8.8m to £13.1m (+49%), an average of +10% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2025, when income rose by 15%. Over the whole period it spent 95% of the income it received.

Among 1,869 England and Wales charities whose main cause is community and economic development and that reported income, The Institute for Fiscal Studies 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 Giving What We Can UK (£12.6m), Fusion21 Foundation (£13.5m) and Access - the Foundation for Social Investment (£12.5m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 87%, donations and legacies 3.0% and investments 1.0%. Charitable activities took 98% of spending and raising funds 1.0%. Reserves of £6.1m would cover about 6 months of spending at that rate. It employed 91 people.