The Foundation and Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens,kew

Analysis

The Foundation and Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens,kew is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Richmond. It was registered in September 1990, 36 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02499006). It says it makes grants to organisations.

In the financial year ending March 2026, The Foundation and Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens,kew reported income of £3.4m and spending of £5.2m, spending 153% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income fell from £4.3m to £3.4m (-22%), an average of -6.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2025, when income dropped by 63%. Over the whole period it spent 110% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The Foundation and Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens,kew sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society (£3.4m), Weald and Downland Open Air Museum Limited (£3.4m) and The Architectural Heritage Fund (£3.3m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 81% and investments 19%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £2.7m. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 3.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £5.0m.