The Friends of the British Library

Analysis

The Friends of the British Library is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in February 1989, 37 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and 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 June 2025, The Friends of the British Library reported income of £1.6m and spending of £1.7m, spending 101% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2021 to June 2025, income grew from £10k to £1.6m (+16036%), an average of +256% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2025, when income rose by 2010%. Over the whole period it spent 104% 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, The Friends of the British Library sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 96% 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 American Museum & Gardens (£1.6m), Alt Valley Community Trust Limited (£1.6m) and The National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies (£1.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 100%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1.6m. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £1.7m. Reserves of £3,053 would cover about 0 months of spending at that rate.