HAY FESTIVAL FOUNDATION LTD
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported an unrestricted surplus of £421,196 and total funds carried forward of £1,675,313 for the year ended 31 December 2025. Per the trustees' report, free reserves of £736,719 are below the stated optimum policy target of £1,105,000, though the trustees consider current levels sufficient for short-term support. The auditors confirmed no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was: £60,001 - £70,000 £70,001 - £80,000 £110,001 - £120,000 2025 1 1 1” — page 25
“The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was: £60,001 - £70,000 £70,001 - £80,000 £110,001 - £120,000 2025 1 1 1” — page 25
“At 31 December 2025, the charity held unrestricted funds of £867,971 (2024: £446,775). After accounting for those funds tied up in fixed assets of £11,252, and those designated for the VAT liability, the charity's free reserves amount to £736,719 (2024: £431,422). Whilst this is less than the optimum level of £1,105,000 the trustees are satisfied that the current reserves held are sufficient to support the organisation in the short term and will strive to build these back to optimal level over the coming years.” — page 10
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Jay Hunt — Chair
- Stephen Fry — Festival President
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Trustees
- Anthony Paul Followell
- Corisande Albert
- Dame Elan Closs Stephens
- Edward Shedd
- Jacqueline Hunt
- Mark Crosbie
- Nicholas Jones Butler
- Philip Bunt
- Professor David Adetayo Olusoga
- Shakia Asha Stewart
- Suhair Fariha Khan
- Victoria Bejarano De la Torre
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £6.9m | £6.4m |
| 31/12/2024 | £6.4m | £6.0m |
| 31/12/2023 | £5.4m | £5.1m |
| 31/12/2022 | £4.7m | £4.6m |
| 31/12/2021 | £167k | £46k |
Common questions
Is HAY FESTIVAL FOUNDATION LTD financially healthy?
The accounts state that the charity reported an unrestricted surplus of £421,196 and total funds carried forward of £1,675,313 for the year ended 31 December 2025. Per the trustees' report, free reserves of £736,719 are below the stated optimum policy target of £1,105,000, though the trustees consider current levels sufficient for short-term support. The auditors confirmed no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Hazlewoods LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of HAY FESTIVAL FOUNDATION LTD earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £110,001 - £120,000 band, and 3 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds HAY FESTIVAL FOUNDATION LTD?
Funders whose own accounts filings name HAY FESTIVAL FOUNDATION LTD as a grant recipient include THE JOHN BROWNE CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE JOHN BROWNE CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £130k |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| JUSTICE FOR JOURNALISTS FOUNDATION | 1 | £19k |
| BOOKER PRIZE FOUNDATION | 1 | £13k |