The National Gallery Trust

Analysis

The National Gallery Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in June 1988, 38 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it makes grants to organisations.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The National Gallery Trust reported income of £8.4m and spending of £11.5m, spending 136% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £9.2m to £8.4m (-8.2%), an average of -2.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 27%. Over the whole period it spent 124% 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 National Gallery 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 Bernard Leach (St Ives) Trust Limited (£8.4m), Beaudesert Park School Trust Limited (£8.5m) and The Cheltenham Trust (£8.3m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 86% and investments 14%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £782k. Charitable activities took 90% of spending and raising funds 10%. Grants to other organisations totalled £10.3m. Reserves of £57.1m would cover about 59 months of spending at that rate.