The Aspinall Foundation

Analysis

The Aspinall Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Kent. It was registered in April 1984, 42 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, animals and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under animals. Legally it is a charitable trust. It says it provides human resources, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending December 2024, The Aspinall Foundation reported income of £1.9m and spending of £3.5m, spending 178% of what it took in. Across the 4 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2024, income fell from £2.3m to £1.9m (-16%), an average of -5.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2024, when income rose by 28%. Over the whole period it spent 168% of the income it received.

Among 2,161 England and Wales charities whose main cause is animals and that reported income, The Aspinall Foundation sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 96th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include RSPCA Brighton & The Heart of Sussex (£1.9m), Friends of Animals League (£2.0m) and The Cat and Rabbit Rescue Centre (£1.9m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 69%, trading 19% and investments 13%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £116k. Charitable activities took 72% of spending and raising funds 22%. Grants to other organisations totalled £1.3m. Reserves of £7.6m would cover about 25 months of spending at that rate. It employed 20 people.

Data notes from the register: The regulator lists this charity's latest annual return or accounts as overdue. Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.