Causes
 X
Resources
 X
User Services
 X
home >> charity search >> the royal society of london for improving natural knowledge (commonly known as the royal society)
Finance Score: 9
Governance Score: 5
Support Score: 9
  • Liabilities <10%: +3
  • Poor Liquidity: -1
  • Good Reserves: +1Good reserves management: +3
  • Strong growth: +2
  • Multiple Deficits: -2
  • Fundraising costs low: +3
  • 12+ Trustees: -1
  • Dynamic board: +3
  • Gender balanced board: +3
  • Overall weighted support: +9
Overall GiG Score: 23 ?

THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON FOR IMPROVING NATURAL KNOWLEDGE (COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ROYAL SOCIETY)

The Royal Society has three roles: A learned society; The UK's Academy of Science; And as a funding agency. We- Promote science and its benefits- Recognise excellence in science- Support outstanding science- Provide scientific advice for policy- Foster international and global cooperation- Provide education and public engagement
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • This charity has a robust balance sheet
  • Reserves management has been consistently within official guidelines
  • There has been strong growth in spending over the last 5 years
  • Fundraising costs are unusually low relative to funds raised
  • A significant proportion of recent income was derived from major grant makers including the Government
  • The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of gender and dynamic in terms of composition

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

  • Why are there 23 trustees whereas the Charities Commission recommends a maximum of 12?
  • Over half the Board have joined recently

Financial issues to consider:

  • Liquidity appears to have been slender at the latest year end but unrestricted reserves are available
  • On several occasions in recent years income has been less than spending

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?
Sources of Income ?
Y/E Income
£k		 Spending
£k		 Surplus/
Deficit £k		 Fundraising
Cost £k		 Total
Funds £k		 Unrestricted
Funds £k		 Mths
Rsrvs		 Staff Volun-
teers
31/03/24£396,290£145,955£250,335£514£609,493£94,1617.72660
31/03/23£139,786£141,691£-1,905£955£334,562£91,3087.72340
31/03/22£124,581£127,654£-3,073£877£356,207£93,1238.82130
31/03/21£136,170£138,422£-2,252£1,065£334,590£85,4147.42190
31/03/20?£129,779£133,704£-3,925£3,248£277,248£80,4457.22120
31/03/18£98,333£101,658£-3,325£3,422£289,666£84,1389.91900
31/03/17£83,920£87,267£-3,347£3,218£293,267£85,35311.71670
31/03/16£77,468£77,520£-52£3,336£256,412£83,780131630
31/03/15£75,072£71,340£3,732£3,299£265,272£84,18014.21510
31/03/14£70,577£70,086£491£3,026£253,727£86,79714.91410
31/03/13£70,626£80,360£-9,734£2,023£237,484£76,81311.51350
31/03/12£70,838£68,218£2,620£1,757£229,091£83,36914.71380
31/03/11£72,863£71,392£1,471£1,322£236,202£88,37014.91400
31/03/10£70,748£65,726£5,022£1,168£223,774£84,06015.31420
31/03/09£80,374£63,219£17,155£1,143£185,699£75,72014.41350
31/03/08£72,157£59,715£12,442£1,304£204,160£86,99317.51310
31/03/07£99,710£51,302£48,408£1,059£194,452£81,93819.21240
31/03/06£49,219£48,377£842n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/05£47,899£45,818£2,081n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/04£46,556£43,727£2,828n/an/an/an/an/an/a
Show more rows -->

Download accounts
Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 0.7%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 1.8%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 4%
Highest pay band: £400,000-£450,000
Liabilities/Assets: 4%
Liabilities/Income: 6%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 15%
Reserves/Spending: 7.7 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: -1 months
Quick Ratio: 0.3
Asset Split ?
Balance Sheet History
Established: 62 years

www.royalsociety.org

info@royalsociety.org

+44 207 451 2500

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies HouseFacebookInstagramX
UN SDGs
?
Listed activities
  • Education/Training
  • Other Charitable Purposes
GiG Classification
  • Scientific research and testing services
How it operates
  • Acts as an umbrella or resource body
  • Makes grants to individuals
  • Makes grants to organisations
  • Provides advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides buildings/facilities/open space
  • Provides other finance
  • Provides services
  • Sponsors or undertakes research
Where it operates
  • Northern Ireland, Scotland,
Who it helps
  • Children/Young People
  • Elderly/Old People
  • Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
  • Other Defined Groups
  • People With Disabilities
  • The General Public/Mankind

Who supports them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

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

Major supporters in last 5 years
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy£98,603,486
Wolfson Foundation£6,000,000
Charles Hayward Foundation£30,000
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months		 To be used for
Charles Hayward Foundation - Grant to Royal Society
£30,000 23/08/2023
Conserve, digitise and catalogue the letters of nineteenth century British scientist John Herschel
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy - Newton Fund grant for Royal Society
£102,691 03/02/2022
Builds research and innovation partnerships with countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to support economic development and social welfare, tackle global challenges and develop talent and careers.
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy - Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) grant for Royal Society
£3,874,023 03/02/2022
Supports UK and international researchers and innovators to take on key issues affecting developing countries
Wolfson Foundation - Grant to The Royal Society
£4,000,000 09/12/2021
Renewal of Royal Society Wolfson Fellowships
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy - Royal Society grant support 21-22
£94,626,772 16/06/2021
To support the work of the Society in 2021-22
Wolfson Foundation - Grant to The Royal Society
£2,000,000 11/06/2020
Renewal of Royal Society Wolfson Fellowships
Wolfson Foundation - Grant to The Royal Society
£4,000,000 04/12/2017
Royal Society Wolfson Strategic Research Appointments (formerly Merit Awards)
Wolfson Foundation - Grant to The Royal Society
£1,500,000 08/12/2016
Royal Society-Wolfson laboratory refurbishment programme 2016-17
Woodward Charitable Trust - Towards The Royal Society Lisa Jardine Research Awards
£12,500 28/11/2016
Towards The Royal Society Lisa Jardine Research Awards grant scheme encouraging the study of the scientific revolution and the Enlightenment to honour and continue Lisa Jardine’s legacy.
Woodward Charitable Trust - Towards the Lisa Jardine Research Awards
£12,500 20/10/2016
Towards The Royal Society Lisa Jardine Research Awards grant scheme encouraging the study of the scientific revolution and the Enlightenment to honour and continue Lisa Jardine's legacy.
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (23)
Current Trustees appointed
Gender Split

  • ANNE RIDLEY Appointed: 2023
  • DAME JULIA SLINGO Appointed: 2021
  • PROFESSOR ALISON ETHERIDGE OBE FRS Appointed: 2021
  • PROFESSOR ANNE DELL CBE FRS Appointed: 2021
  • PROFESSOR ANNETTE CATHERINE DOLPHIN FRS Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Professor Of Pharmacology
  • PROFESSOR CARLOS FRENK CBE FRS Appointed: 2023
  • PROFESSOR DAME ATHENE DONALD Appointed: 2021
  • PROFESSOR DOREEN ANN CANTRELL FRS Appointed: 2022
  • PROFESSOR GIDEON DAVIES FRS Appointed: 2023
  • PROFESSOR JENNIFER ANNE THOMAS CBE FRS Appointed: 2020
  • PROFESSOR JONATHAN KEATING FRS Appointed: 2023
  • PROFESSOR JULIA ALISON NOBLE OBE FRS Appointed: 2022
  • PROFESSOR LINDA PARTRIDGE FRS Appointed: 2019
  • PROFESSOR ROBIN PERUTZ Appointed: 2021
  • PROFESSOR SARAH DARBY FRS Appointed: 2023
  • PROFESSOR SHEILA ROWAN CBE FRS Appointed: 2023
  • PROFESSOR SIR ADRIAN SMITH FRS Appointed: 2020
  • PROFESSOR STEPHEN BARNETT FRS FRSE Appointed: 2022
  • PROFESSOR STEPHEN WEST CBE Appointed: 2023
  • PROFESSOR TIM PALMER CBE FRS Appointed: 2023
  • PROFESSOR YVONNE JONES FRS Appointed: 2022
  • SIR DAVID CHARLES BAULCOMBE FRS Appointed: 2021
  • SIR MARK WALPORT Appointed: 2022
Legal constitution
  • Charity registered in England & Wales on 22/01/1963, number: 207043
  • Registered at Companies House on 01/01/1970, number: RC000519
Gift Aid
  • Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Policies in force
  • Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
  • Complaints handling
  • Conflicting interests
  • Financial reserves policy and procedures
  • Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
  • Internal risk management policy and procedures
  • Investing charity funds policy and procedures
  • Investment
  • Paying staff
  • Risk management
  • Safeguarding policy and procedures
  • Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
  • Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
  • Social media policy and procedures
  • Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
  • Trustee expenses policy and procedures
  • Volunteer management
Filing Record
20 returns made; all on time
Main office

6-9 CARLTON HOUSE TERRACE
LONDON
SW1Y 5AG

Objectives

FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF NATURAL KNOWLEDGE

Defined Area of Benefit:

NOT DEFINED

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving

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

Watch Inspiring Videos

Save the upside down forest
Change the ending - the pain of Alzheimers
Help Dads in prison stay in touch with their children
Giving is Great
Share
Copy Link
×