The Virgin Foundation

Analysis

The Virgin Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in August 1987, 39 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives and the prevention or relief of poverty, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02155645). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides other finance.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Virgin Foundation reported income of £18.2m and spending of £17.2m, spending 95% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £11.9m to £18.2m (+52%), an average of +11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 115%. Over the whole period it spent 90% 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 Virgin Foundation sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 99% of them. 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 Mountbatten Isle of Wight (£17.9m), Shrewsbury Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust (£18.2m) and Royal Trinity Hospice (£17.8m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 84%, trading 14% and investments 2.7%. Charitable activities took 71% of spending and raising funds 10%. Grants to other organisations totalled £7.3m. Reserves of £17.5m would cover about 10 months of spending at that rate. It employed 6 people.