Friends of the Earth Charitable Trust

Analysis

Friends of the Earth Charitable Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in January 1981, 45 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, environment/conservation/heritage and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01533942). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides advocacy/advice/information and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending June 2025, Friends of the Earth Charitable Trust reported income of £15.3m and spending of £14.8m, spending 96% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2021 to June 2025, income fell from £16.0m to £15.3m (-3.9%), an average of -1.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2024, when income rose by 17%. Over the whole period it spent 97% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, Friends of the Earth Charitable Trust 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Dulwich Estate (£14.6m), Tusk Trust Limited (£15.6m) and Greenpeace Environmental Trust (£14.5m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 97% and trading 2.6%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £3.5m. Charitable activities took 84% of spending and raising funds 15%. Grants to other organisations totalled £10.6m. Reserves of £2.0m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 176 people.