The Methodist Relief and Development Fund

Analysis

The Methodist Relief and Development Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in June 1985, 41 years ago. Its declared purposes cover the prevention or relief of poverty and overseas aid/famine relief, which this site groups under poverty relief. It says it makes grants to organisations, provides advocacy/advice/information and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending August 2025, The Methodist Relief and Development Fund reported income of £2.8m and spending of £2.9m, spending 104% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income fell from £3.6m to £2.8m (-23%), an average of -6.4% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2023, when income dropped by 26%. Over the whole period it spent 100% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, The Methodist Relief and Development Fund sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% 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 B&Q Foundation (£2.8m), Two Ridings Community Foundation (£2.8m) and Rapid Relief Team (£2.8m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 98% and investments 2.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £751k. Charitable activities took 75% of spending and raising funds 24%. Grants to other organisations totalled £1.0m. Reserves of £1.5m would cover about 6 months of spending at that rate. It employed 22 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.