The Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust
Analysis
The Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in York. It was registered in December 1979, 47 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it makes grants to individuals.
In the financial year ending December 2025, The Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust reported income of £39k and spending of £50k, spending 127% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £38k to £39k (+3.3%), an average of +0.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 79%. Over the whole period it spent 124% 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 Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust sits at the 65th percentile: it is larger than about 65% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 57th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Stockton Heath Festival Trust (£39k), Lloyd's Choir (£39k) and The University of the Third Age - Haxby and Wigginton (£39k).
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.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Other 100%
In the charity's own words
The maintenance of a scheme of awards to deserving artists, writers, craftsmen and musicians of anykind who by reason of their poverty are unable to pursue effectively their vocation as such. Beneficiaries must be over 30 years of age and be born within Great Britain, Northern Ireland, The Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and must be British Citizens.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Stockton Heath Festival Trust | Warrington | £39k |
| Lloyd's Choir | London | £39k |
| The University of the Third Age - Haxby and Wigginton | York | £39k |
| Worldwrite | London | £39k |