Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution
Analysis
Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Bath. It was registered in January 1968, 58 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it provides human resources, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides advocacy/advice/information.
In the financial year ending March 2026, Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution reported income of £547k and spending of £710k, spending 130% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income grew from £311k to £547k (+76%), an average of +15% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 116%. Over the whole period it spent 106% 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, Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution sits at the 92nd percentile: it is larger than about 92% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 90th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Take Art Limited (£547k), Improbable (£549k) and Association for Art History (£545k).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from investments 42%, donations and legacies 25%, trading 20% and charitable activities 12%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £23k. Charitable activities took 71% of spending and raising funds 29%. Reserves of £515k would cover about 9 months of spending at that rate. It employed 8 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 21%
- Legacies 4.2%
- Charitable activities 12%
- Trading 20%
- Investments 42%
In the charity's own words
The aim of the Institution is to promote, in the Bath and North East Somerset area, an interest in the arts and sciences, and to provide, through archives and collections, resources for education, research and enjoyment. This is aided by the provision of a variety of exhibitions and a diverse programme of lectures, discussions and meetings.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Take Art Limited | Somerset | £547k |
| Improbable | Kent | £549k |
| Association for Art History | London | £545k |
| Pentabus Arts Limited | Shropshire | £549k |