The Clothworkers' Foundation

Analysis

The Clothworkers' Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in July 1977, 49 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, which this site groups under grant-making and general purposes. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01321952). It says it makes grants to organisations.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Clothworkers' Foundation reported income of £10.7m and spending of £12.6m, spending 118% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £11.6m to £10.7m (-8.5%), an average of -2.2% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 588%. Over the whole period it spent 37% of the income it received.

Among 5,976 England and Wales charities whose main cause is grant-making and general purposes and that reported income, The Clothworkers' Foundation 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 Aurum Kaleidoscope Foundation (£10.5m), Stratton Chase Foundation (£10.7m) and The Swire Charitable Trust (£10.3m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from investments 88% and donations and legacies 12%. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 2.5%. Grants to other organisations totalled £10.4m. Reserves of £1.6m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate.