Book Aid International

Analysis

Book Aid International is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in July 1966, 60 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and overseas aid/famine relief, which this site groups under overseas aid and international. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00880754). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending December 2025, Book Aid International reported income of £11.6m and spending of £13.6m, spending 118% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income fell from £12.6m to £11.6m (-7.8%), an average of -2.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2025, when income dropped by 48%. Over the whole period it spent 101% of the income it received.

Among 1,223 England and Wales charities whose main cause is overseas aid and international and that reported income, Book Aid International sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 99% of them. 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 Promoting Equality in African Schools (£11.3m), Spurgeons (£12.6m) and Elrha (£11.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 26%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £678k. Charitable activities took 17% of spending and raising funds 6.4%. Grants to other organisations totalled £251k. Reserves of £1.7m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 28 people.