The Royal Society of Biology

Analysis

The Royal Society of Biology is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in July 1979, 47 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it provides services, provides advocacy/advice/information and acts as an umbrella or resource body.

In the financial year ending September 2025, The Royal Society of Biology reported income of £3.2m and spending of £3.5m, spending 111% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from September 2021 to September 2025, income grew from £2.8m to £3.2m (+14%), an average of +3.4% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to September 2024, when income rose by 24%. Over the whole period it spent 101% 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 Royal Society of Biology sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Thames21 Limited (£3.2m), Chiswick House and Gardens Trust (£3.2m) and Titchfield Festival Theatre Limited (£3.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 89%, donations and legacies 7.2% and investments 1.8%. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 1.5%. Grants to other organisations totalled £3,600. Reserves of £1.6m would cover about 5 months of spending at that rate. It employed 40 people.