The Whitgift Foundation

Analysis

The Whitgift Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Croydon. It was registered in March 1965, 61 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, accommodation/housing and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under housing and shelter. It says it makes grants to individuals, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending August 2025, The Whitgift Foundation reported income of £77.1m and spending of £92.4m, spending 120% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2021 to August 2025, income grew from £63.5m to £77.1m (+21%), an average of +5.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2023, when income rose by 22%. Over the whole period it spent 114% of the income it received.

Among 2,324 England and Wales charities whose main cause is housing and shelter and that reported income, The Whitgift Foundation 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 YHA (England and Wales) (£66.1m), Greensleeves Homes Trust (£89.1m) and Hestia Housing and Support (£56.8m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 85%, investments 11%, trading 1.6% and donations and legacies 1.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £24k. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 3.3%. Reserves of £196.5m would cover about 25 months of spending at that rate. It employed 713 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.