Actionaid

Analysis

Actionaid is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in October 1972, 54 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty, overseas aid/famine relief and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under poverty relief. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01295174). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Actionaid reported income of £47.6m and spending of £48.3m, spending 101% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £49.6m to £47.6m (-3.9%), an average of -1.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 20%. Over the whole period it spent 100% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Actionaid sits at the 100th 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 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Catch 22 Charity Limited (£46.6m), Charity Projects (£51.1m) and Concern Worldwide (UK) (£45.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 72%, charitable activities 26% and investments 1.0%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £4.5m. Charitable activities took 76% of spending and raising funds 23%. Grants to other organisations totalled £29.3m. Reserves of £7.3m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 189 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.