The Health Foundation

Analysis

The Health Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in May 1983, 43 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01714937). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Health Foundation reported income of £22.2m and spending of £69.6m, spending 314% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £17.1m to £22.2m (+30%), an average of +6.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2025, when income rose by 29%. Over the whole period it spent 358% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, The Health 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 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Friends of the Elderly (£22.0m), Moorfields Eye Charity (£22.2m) and Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (£22.0m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from investments 95% and charitable activities 5.4%. Charitable activities took 80% of spending and raising funds 19%. Grants to other organisations totalled £21.2m. It employed 281 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.