The Conran Foundation

Analysis

The Conran Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in June 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 02333772). It says it makes grants to organisations and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Conran Foundation reported income of £14.7m and spending of £1.5m, leaving 89% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £5,322 to £14.7m (+275442%), an average of +624% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income dropped by 100%. Over the whole period it spent 16% 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 Conran Foundation sits at the 99th 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 Jewish Futures Trust Limited (£14.6m), The Serpentine Trust (£14.8m) and London Philharmonic Orchestra Limited (£14.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 93% and investments 7.1%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £13.6m. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £1.5m. Reserves of £14.6m would cover about 111 months of spending at that rate.