The Serpentine Trust

Analysis

The Serpentine Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in March 1988, 38 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02150221). It says it provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Serpentine Trust reported income of £14.8m and spending of £15.6m, spending 105% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £6.0m to £14.8m (+148%), an average of +26% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 75%. Over the whole period it spent 109% 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 Serpentine Trust 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Conran Foundation (£14.7m), Leeds Heritage Theatres (£14.9m) and Jewish Futures Trust Limited (£14.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 45%, charitable activities 42% and trading 12%. Charitable activities took 78% of spending and raising funds 22%. Reserves of £2.6m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 101 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.