THE BORROW FOUNDATION
The Borrow Foundation is a grant making organisation, committed to the improvement of oral health, primarily in children, through the prevention of oral diseases. The work we support reaches many parts of the world, with the focus being firmly on population oral health and the need to reduce inequalities, within and between countries.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that unrestricted funds increased significantly to £49,178,514, driven largely by a £25.1 million gain from the disposal of fixed assets. The charity maintains a reserves policy targeting free reserves between £nil and £300,000, though actual unrestricted funds substantially exceed this target. The trustees confirm there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“Total income comprises £1,310,228 (2024 – £1,407,598) of income from commercial activities, £571,895 (2024 – £408,436) generated by the charity’s investments and £25,128,999 (2024 - £nil) from the disposal of fixed assets.” — page 15
“The charity aims to maintain its free reserves balance (excluding all fixed assets, deferred tax liabilities, and grant commitments) between £nil and £300,000 to ensure there is a small reserve to meet future unforeseen expenditure.” — page 17
“The charity's wholly owned subsidiary undertaking, Borrow Investments Limited (company registration number 00671291), carries out non-charitable trading activities.” — page 5
In the news
- WHO Western Pacific and The Borrow Foundation strengthen partnership to address the burden of oral diseases in the Region
- Borrow Foundation Grants for Child Oral Health Implementation Research (UK)
- Borrow Foundation Grants for Child Oral Health Implementation Research (UK)
- BASCD Borrow Foundation Early Career Poster Award winners focused on the Wikipedia Collaboration of Dental Schools
Corporate structure
- Trading subsidiary: BORROW INVESTMENTS LIMITED Companies House 00671291
- Registered company of the charity Companies House 03303900
- Turnover: £1.3m
- Profit before tax: £25.7m
- Donated/gift-aided to the charity: £505k
- Loan from parent undertaking: £1,900,000
“During the year the company made a charitable contribution of £504,768 (2024 — £935,590) via Gift Aid to its parent undertaking, The Borrow Foundation, a registered charity, whose objects are the prevention of oral disease and the promotion of oral heaith education for the benefit of the general public. An in-kind donation of the investment property, Lister House, with a value of £12,175,000, was also made by the company to the charity.”
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Professor Andrew Rugg-Gunn — Chair
- Professor Lorna Macpherson — Trustee
- Professor Tim Newton — Trustee
- Professor Jukka Meurman — Trustee
- Mr Nigel Borrow — Trustee
Company officers (Companies House)
- MEURMAN, Jukka Heikki, Professor on trustee list
- NEWTON, Jonathon Timothy, Professor on trustee list
- MACPHERSON, Lorna Margaret Davidson, Professor on trustee list
- RUGG GUNN, Andrew John, Professor on trustee list
- BORROW, Nigel Frederick on trustee list
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Trustees
- PROFESSOR ANDREW JOHN RUGG-GUNNchair
- Nigel Borrow
- Professor Jonathon Timothy Newton
- Professor Jukka Heikki Meurman
- Professor Lorna Margaret Davidson Macpherson
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £27.0m | £1.9m |
| 31/03/2024 | £1.8m | £1.7m |
| 31/03/2023 | £2.0m | £1.7m |
| 31/03/2022 | £1.5m | £1.4m |
| 31/03/2021 | £1.8m | £1.5m |
Common questions
Is THE BORROW FOUNDATION financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted funds increased significantly to £49,178,514, driven largely by a £25.1 million gain from the disposal of fixed assets. The charity maintains a reserves policy targeting free reserves between £nil and £300,000, though actual unrestricted funds substantially exceed this target. The trustees confirm there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Buzzacott Audit LLP.
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE VASEPPI TRUST | 1 | £110k |
| THE EDWINA MOUNTBATTEN AND LEONORA CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | 1 | £70k |
| THE EQ FOUNDATION | 1 | £50k |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GREAT BRITAIN | 1 | £26k |
| SUMNER WILSON CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £23k |
| LUCILLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £18k |
| THE CHANDRIS FOUNDATION | 1 | £13k |
| TALBOT VILLAGE TRUST | 1 | £7k |
Charities like this
- ORAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
- THE BORNE FOUNDATION
- SAO FOUNDATION
- BOWRA FOUNDATION
- THE BLOOM FOUNDATION
- THE BADUR FOUNDATION
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE BORROW FOUNDATION | £27.0m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| ORAL HEALTH FOUNDATION | £985k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE BORNE FOUNDATION | £1.7m | £90,001 - £100,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SAO FOUNDATION | £812k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| BOWRA FOUNDATION | £110k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE BLOOM FOUNDATION | £7.0m | — | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |