Thomas Coram Foundation for Children (Formerly Foundling Hospital)

Analysis

Thomas Coram Foundation for Children (Formerly Foundling Hospital) is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in October 1966, 60 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, the prevention or relief of poverty and accommodation/housing, which this site groups under poverty relief. It says it makes grants to organisations, provides human resources and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Thomas Coram Foundation for Children (Formerly Foundling Hospital) reported income of £27.6m and spending of £27.6m, spending 100% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £20.9m to £27.6m (+32%), an average of +7.2% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 17%. Over the whole period it spent 98% of the income it received.

Among 15,276 England and Wales charities whose main cause is poverty relief and that reported income, Thomas Coram Foundation for Children (Formerly Foundling Hospital) sits at the 100th 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 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include National Grocers Benevolent Fund (£27.3m), Groundwork London (£27.9m) and Teign Homes (£25.8m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 70%, trading 19%, donations and legacies 7.8% and investments 1.2%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £133k. Charitable activities took 78% of spending and raising funds 21%. Grants to other organisations totalled £60k. Reserves of £4.1m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 499 people.