The British Film Institute

Analysis

The British Film Institute is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in September 1983, 43 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it makes grants to organisations, provides other finance and provides human resources.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The British Film Institute reported income of £128.1m and spending of £117.8m, spending 92% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £145.6m to £128.1m (-12%), an average of -3.2% a year. Over the whole period it spent 104% 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 British Film Institute 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 The British Academy for the Promotion of Historical Philosophical and Philological Studies (£106.2m), Museum of London (£128.5m) and National Oceanography Centre (£87.9m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 33%, charitable activities 26% and investments 2.7%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1,814. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 2.4%. Reserves of £8.0m would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 638 people.