Overall GiG Score: 25 based on 19 data points
Finance: -3
Governance: 8
Support: 20
Reasonable growth: +1, Multiple Deficits: -2, Fundraising costs high: -2,
12+ Trustees: -1, Good trustee age range: +3, Dynamic board: +3, Gender balanced board: +3,
Large volunteers +5, Supporters: +15

MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY 

The Marine Conservation Society fights for the future of our ocean through people powered action, with science on our side. We defend habitats and species, with communities, businesses and governments. Together, we work towards a cleaner, better protected, healthier ocean. For seas full of life, where nature flourishes and people thrive.
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • This charity has been very successful in attracting volunteers relative to its size
  • The charity has received backing from several prominent grant makers recently
  • There has been reasonable growth in spending over the last 3 years relative to the previous period
  • The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and gender and dynamic in terms of composition

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

  • There are 13 trustees whereas the Charities Commission recommends a maximum of 12
  • Over half the Board have joined recently

Financial issues to consider:

  • On several occasions in recent years income has been less than spending
  • Fundraising costs are high relative to funds raised
Established: 32 years

www.mcsuk.org

info@mcsuk.org

01989566017

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies HouseYouTube
UN SDGs
?
How you can help

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?
Sources of Income ?
Y/E Income
£k
Spending
£k
Surplus/
Deficit
Fundraising
Cost £k
Total
Funds £k
Unrestricted
Funds £k
Mths
Rsrvs
Staff Volun-
teers
31/03/22£4,356£4,767£-410£875£2,479£1,6244.19220,177
31/03/21£4,254£4,154£100£885£2,889£1,5254.47826,647
31/03/20£5,219£3,611£1,608£995£2,789£1,1153.77126,647
31/03/19£3,834£4,136£-302£1,220£1,181£8572.57329,259
31/03/18£2,741£3,139£-397£659£1,464£1,1144.36618,319
31/03/17£2,460£3,237£-777£640£1,886£1,0003.7580
31/03/16£2,889£2,631£258£525£2,581£9004.1540
31/03/15£2,206£2,399£-193£491£2,351£8004500
31/03/14£2,035£2,469£-435£512£2,498£8003.9570
31/03/13£1,816£2,655£-840£485£2,918£8003.6580
31/03/12£4,879£2,458£2,421£604£3,690£8003.9470
31/03/11£2,177£1,855£322£422£1,255£8005.2340
31/03/10£1,342£1,428£-86£270£932£7065.9300
31/03/09£1,430£1,199£231£181£1,019£5205.2270
31/03/08£1,211£1,124£87£174£788£4554.9240
31/03/07£971£1,001£-30£245£701£4185240
31/03/06£1,020£916£104n/an/an/an/an/a0
31/03/05£805£686£119n/an/an/an/an/a0
31/03/04£729£696£33n/an/an/an/an/a0

Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 22.2%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 18.4%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 4%
Highest pay band: £80,000-£90,000
Liabilities/Assets: 24%
Liabilities/Income: 18%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 66%
Reserves/Spending: 4.1 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 6 months
Quick Ratio: 3.1
Asset Split ?
What it does
  • Animals
  • Arts/Culture/Heritage/Science
  • Education/Training
  • Environment/Conservation/Heritage
Who works here?
  • 92 employees
  • 20,177 volunteers
Who it helps
  • The General Public/Mankind
How it operates
  • Provides advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides services
  • Sponsors or undertakes research
Where it operates
  • Scotland, Throughout England And Wales, Turks And Caicos Islands,

Who's supporting them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following significant donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Major supporters in last 5 years
The National Lottery Heritage Fund£385,800
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch£269,400
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation£233,378
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs£161,315
John Ellerman Foundation£135,000
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport£124,200
The Dulverton Trust£110,000
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£193,378 22/02/2023
Towards project costs related to shaping the environmental future of UK aquaculture at a critical juncture, when the industry is poised for significant growth
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
£244,000 22/12/2022
#NNF2 Hiraeth?yn?y Môr (HYYM) - Advancing Ocean Literacy in North East Wales through marine citizenship
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
£108,004 27/10/2021
improved chemical and mechanical treatment. The project will ensure local capacity is built to deliver those
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
£124,200 21/06/2021
Building on almost 40 years experience, MCS will significantly scale up participation in volunteering, marine citizen science and youth engagement, connecting people with and inspiring them to take ....more
The Dulverton Trust
£10,000 09/06/2021
Beachwatch - clean beaches, safe volunteers - Big Give Green Match Fund 2021
John Ellerman Foundation
£135,000 28/01/2021
Towards costs of a new Blue Carbon Economist post to deliver a portfolio of ocean-based climate solutions and empower communities in blue carbon recovery action.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
£141,800 18/08/2020
COVID19: Marine Conservation Society
Garfield Weston Foundation
£30,000 14/05/2020
The Welsh Programme
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£40,000 12/05/2020
6
towards unrestricted core costs as a COVID-19 Fast Response grant
Seafarers UK
£10,000 02/04/2020
Grant funding for an education programme aimed at integrating local fishing practice, culture, heritage and marine conservation into North Norfolk school teaching.
The Seafarers' Charity
£10,000 02/04/2020
Grant funding for an education programme aimed at integrating local fishing practice, culture, heritage and marine conservation into North Norfolk school teaching.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
£53,311 01/04/2020
BVI’s turtle populations face various threats, compounded by 2017’s catastrophic hurricane impacts. This project will support the recovery of BVI’s turtle populations and key habitats (reefs and ....more
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch
£85,000 21/11/2019
to support Agents of Change initiative to replicate and scale over the next two years.
The Dulverton Trust
£100,000 12/06/2019
Core funding towards marine conservation
Seafarers UK
£10,000 04/04/2019
Grant funding to develop a new curriculum-linked education programme for primary schools that uses local ‘Fishing Ambassadors’ to raise awareness of local fishing practice, culture, heritage and ....more
The Seafarers' Charity
£10,000 04/04/2019
Grant funding to develop a new curriculum-linked education programme for primary schools that uses local ‘Fishing Ambassadors’ to raise awareness of local fishing practice, culture, heritage and ....more
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch
£20,000 30/01/2019
To support a six-month extension to the Agents of Change pilot in order to maximise ooportunities arising in 2019, assess impact and develop a strategy for delivering Agents of Change as a ....more
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch
£164,400 09/01/2019
To contribute to core costs for the Marine CoLABoration coordinator to support delivery on the Marine CoLAB 2019-21 strategy, plus some operational and governance costs.
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£240,000 06/11/2018
36
Towards the salary and other costs of the Chief Executive during the first phase of a new strategy to place the organisation at the centre of conservation efforts to restore UK seas.
John Ellerman Foundation
£153,000 26/07/2018
36
Towards the salary of a Caribbean UKOTs Conservation Officer to help develop environmental and social resilience in the region's communities
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch
£80,000 22/03/2018
Create a campaign called 'Blue Heart' that will use Community Voice Method (CVM) to capture and communicate the importance of the ocean to a range of people with varying values across the UK.
Sussex Community Foundation
£9,900 16/03/2018
11
Marine Conservation Society protects our seas, shores and marine life. Funding was provided to help them raise awareness of Kingmere Marine Conservation Zone through their website and permanent ....more
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch
£6,000 19/12/2017
Building on the success of the BBC's Blue Planet II series, this will go towards the cost of the #BluePlanetChampion campaign, which provides a high-profile collaborative platform for ocean NGOs and ....more
John Ellerman Foundation
£6,000 30/11/2017
6
Towards a joint initiative by MCS, Greenpeace and International Programme on the State of the Ocean to catalyse personal and political action on marine conservation following Blue Planet II through a ....more
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£15,000 27/11/2017
6
Towards the costs of a communications campaign between a number of marine conservation organisations to secure greater commitment from the UK Government towards protection of the seas.
Nesta
£21,095 07/03/2017
5
Join In Stay In programme grant to THE MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY Grant Ref AC00590
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch
£20,000 21/12/2016
To support participation in the Marine CoLABoration in phase two of the initiative (2017-2018).
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch
£100,000 15/09/2016
To build a closer strategic alignment among Marine CoLABoration members of existing work with UK coastal communities. To identify, empower and connect new local advocates for marine conservation ....more
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch
£100,000 15/09/2016
To build a closer strategic alignment among Marine CoLABoration members of existing work with UK coastal communities. To identify, empower and connect new local advocates for marine conservation ....more
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch
£57,500 01/06/2016
To provide support for the coordination and development of the Marine CoLABoration over the next two years
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch
£57,500 01/06/2016
To provide support for the coordination and development of the Marine CoLABoration over the next two years
The Dulverton Trust
£100,000 10/06/2015
Core Programme Funding
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£63,843 16/03/2011
Towards membership development and research into possible office relocation.
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
£50,000 25/06/2008
12
Towards Project costs Towards the launch and first year of the major litter champions campaign to promote local practical action to tackle the increasing levels of marine litter.
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How do they operate?

Clean Seas Campaigns

Objectives: To ensure seas are cleaner, track the health of the sea, identify key sources of pollution and develop innovative solutions to combat this pollution

Description: Their campaigns have worked at a national and European level to ensure action is taken on marine litter and water quality including working with thousands of volunteers to run beach cleans and run surveys nationwide

Ocean Recovery Campaigns

Objectives: To ensure seas are better protected, improve marine management, secure more well-managed marine protected areas, recover, nurture and protect marine species and habitats, and track ocean recovery through research partnerships and science

Description: Campaigns work with local communities, governments, marine managers and scientists to make sure seas are looked after and able to recover where needed. This includes working with volunteer Seasearch divers providing data to support advocacy for designation and management of marine protected areas

Responsible Seafood Campaigns

Objectives: To ensure there are more fish in healthier seas, improve the way wild fisheries and farms are managed, and influence consumers and seafood businesses to be more responsible in their seafood buying choices

Description: Their campaigns have included developing a Good Fish Guide to support consumers in making responsible choices in seafood and highlighting where retailers, restaurants, suppliers, fishers and fish farms are doing the right thing

Who works here?

  • SANDY LUIK
    CEO
Sandy is an environmental lawyer by training. In her previous roles, Sandy has worked on many marine matters including fisheries management, seafood sustainability, marine protected areas, whaling and oil drilling. She comes from environmental lawyers, ClientEarth, where she was one of two Programme Directors and a key member of the team that built the organisation. She has worked for public interest organisations for many years including the ....more

How is it governed?

Trustees (13)
Current Trustees appointed
Gender Split

Age Range of Trustees: 28-64
  • AMANDA JANE NOBBS Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Local Government Boundary Commissioner For England
  • HELENA THERNSTROM Appointed: 2021, Occupation: Head Of Legal, Asset & Invoice Finance
  • JONATHAN HALL Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Head Of Uk Overseas Territories,Rspb
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 28/08/1991, number: 1004005
  • Registered at Companies House on 23/10/1990, number: 02550966
  • Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Policies in force
  • Complaints handling
  • Conflicting interests
  • Investment
  • Paying staff
  • Risk management
  • Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
  • Volunteer management
Main office

Overross House
Ross Park
ROSS-ON-WYE
HEREFORDSHIRE
HR9 7US

Objectives

3. THE OBJECTS OF THE COMPANY (THE OBJECTS) ARE TO UNDERTAKE AND PROMOTE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC: 3.1 THE CONSERVATION, PROTECTION, IMPROVEMENT AND ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE MARINE AND FRESHWATER ENVIRONMENT INCLUDING ASSOCIATED LAND, SHORELINE AND STRUCTURES. (ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT MEANS USING, CONSERVING AND ENHANCING THE COMMUNITY'S RESOURCES SO THAT ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES, ON WHICH LIFE DEPENDS, ARE MAINTAINED, AND THE TOTAL QUALITY OF LIFE, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, CAN BE INCREASED). 3.2 ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC, IN ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THE CONSERVATION, PROTECTION, IMPROVEMENT AND ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE MARINE, COASTAL AND FRESHWATER ENVIRONMENT, AND IN RELATION TO CONNECTED HUMAN HEALTH AND OTHER BENEFITS, AND THE UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OCEAN TO HUMAN LIFE. 3.3 PROMOTE, ASSIST, UNDERTAKE AND COMMISSION RESEARCH INTO MATTERS RELATING TO THE CONSERVATION, PROTECTION, IMPROVEMENT AND ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE MARINE, COASTAL AND FRESHWATER ENVIRONMENT AND IN RELATION TO CONNECTED HUMAN HEALTH AND OTHER BENEFIT. NOTHING IN THE ARTICLES SHALL AUTHORISE AN APPLICATION OF THE PROPERTY OF THE CHARITY FOR PURPOSES WHICH ARE NOT CHARITABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7 OF THE CHARITIES AND TRUSTEE INVESTMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 2005 AND/OR SECTION 2 OF THE CHARITIES ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2008.

Defined Area of Benefit: NOT DEFINED. IN PRACTICE NATIONALLY

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving
CharityBase

Tips for Selecting Charities

Which areas of philanthropy are most effective?
The text of this post is taken from an article on the Effective Altruism forum. It suggests that you can achieve the most impact by supporting causes that fight extreme poverty, improving animal welfare....more
Our Top Tips for Philanthropy
Here are some ideas to help you gain more satisfaction from your philanthropy and confidence that the causes you have selected are impactful. Engage your brain, as well as your heart You....more
How to become a Philanthropist
In this Blog we outline a strategy to help people who are new to philanthropy and for those who feel dissatisfied with the impact they are having. Effective philanthropy is immensely rewarding for donors,....more

Giving is Great