Microbiology Society

Analysis

Microbiology Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in May 1972, 54 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives, overseas aid/famine relief and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01039582). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Microbiology Society reported income of £4.2m and spending of £5.3m, spending 125% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £4.1m to £4.2m (+2.9%), an average of +0.7% a year. Over the whole period it spent 132% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Microbiology Society sits at the 96th percentile: it is larger than about 96% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Derbyshire Districts Citizens Advice Bureau (£4.2m), Columbia UK Fund Limited (£4.2m) and Carers Support West Sussex (£4.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 98% and investments 1.9%. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 0.9%. Reserves of £11.4m would cover about 25 months of spending at that rate. It employed 46 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.