Friends of the Nations' Libraries
Analysis
Friends of the Nations' Libraries is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Berkshire. It was registered in March 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it makes grants to organisations.
In the financial year ending December 2025, Friends of the Nations' Libraries reported income of £458k and spending of £480k, spending 105% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £16.3m to £458k (-97%), an average of -59% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income dropped by 88%. Over the whole period it spent 91% 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, Friends of the Nations' Libraries sits at the 91st percentile: it is larger than about 91% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 89th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Amscordi Limited (£458k), Project Space Leeds (£458k) and Arts Alive in Shropshire and Herefordshire (£457k).
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Other 100%
In the charity's own words
Grants to promote the acquisition by national and regional libraries and archives of printed books, manuscripts and records of historical, literary, artistic, architectural, musical or such like interest and to assist the libraries in any other way which the Charity considers appropriate.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Amscordi Limited | London | £458k |
| Project Space Leeds | Leeds | £458k |
| Arts Alive in Shropshire and Herefordshire | Shropshire | £457k |
| The Paper Birds Theatre Company | Essex | £458k |