The Friends of the Royal Academy

Analysis

The Friends of the Royal Academy is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in March 1977, 49 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01291535). It says it provides other finance and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending August 2025, The Friends of the Royal Academy reported income of £11.4m and spending of £11.4m, spending 100% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income fell from £12.7m to £11.4m (-11%), an average of -2.7% a year. Over the whole period it spent 100% 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 Friends of the Royal Academy 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 Newport Live (£11.2m), The Wigmore Hall Trust (£11.5m) and Philharmonia Ltd (£11.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 100%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £25k. Charitable activities took 100% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £116k would cover about 0 months of spending at that rate. It employed 14 people.