The Design Museum

Analysis

The Design Museum is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in January 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. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02325092). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Design Museum reported income of £17.2m and spending of £14.9m, spending 87% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £10.1m to £17.2m (+71%), an average of +14% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 40%. Over the whole period it spent 107% 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 Design Museum 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include North Music Trust (£17.0m), Purposeful Ventures (£17.3m) and Stoke Ferry Village Hall (£16.9m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 44%, trading 31% and donations and legacies 24%. Charitable activities took 60% of spending and raising funds 39%. It employed 191 people.