THE BORN FREE FOUNDATION
Latest income
£7.7m
Latest spending
£7.1m
Registered
1998
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity achieved a total income of £7.7 million and generated an operating surplus of £0.4 million for the year ended 31 March 2025. Free reserves stood at £4.881 million, which is slightly above the trustees' stated target range of £4.6 million to £4.8 million, providing financial security for future plans.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: £4,600,000 - £4,800,000 (held: £4.9m)
“we have concluded that we need to maintain free reserves within the range of £4,600k to £4,800k.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Payment to Trustee for services
“During the year, a total of £3,345 was paid to one Trustee, based in Kenya, to deliver leadership coaching and 1-2-1 mentoring sessions to senior managers in the Kenya team”
“Will Travers, the Executive President, is a son of Virginia McKenna, who is a Trustee. He received remuneration of £94,088 during the year” — page 60
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Remuneration to Executive President (Trustee's son)
“During the year, a total of £3,345 was paid to one Trustee, based in Kenya, to deliver leadership coaching and 1-2-1 mentoring sessions to senior managers in the Kenya team”
“Will Travers, the Executive President, is a son of Virginia McKenna, who is a Trustee. He received remuneration of £94,088 during the year” — page 60
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Payment to Born Free USA
“During the year, a total of £3,345 was paid to one Trustee, based in Kenya, to deliver leadership coaching and 1-2-1 mentoring sessions to senior managers in the Kenya team”
“Will Travers, the Executive President, is a son of Virginia McKenna, who is a Trustee. He received remuneration of £94,088 during the year” — page 60
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Contribution to The Pangea Trust
“During the year, a total of £3,345 was paid to one Trustee, based in Kenya, to deliver leadership coaching and 1-2-1 mentoring sessions to senior managers in the Kenya team”
“Will Travers, the Executive President, is a son of Virginia McKenna, who is a Trustee. He received remuneration of £94,088 during the year” — page 60
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Contribution to Species Survival Network
“During the year, a total of £3,345 was paid to one Trustee, based in Kenya, to deliver leadership coaching and 1-2-1 mentoring sessions to senior managers in the Kenya team”
“Will Travers, the Executive President, is a son of Virginia McKenna, who is a Trustee. He received remuneration of £94,088 during the year” — page 60
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Born Free Trading Limited, Born Free Films Limited
“The charity has two subsidiaries that are separate legal entities – Born Free Trading Ltd and Born Free Films Ltd, which is dormant.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Will Travers OBE — Executive President
- Karen Botha — Managing Director
- Sharon Martin — Chief Finance Officer
- Katie Arber — Director of Fundraising
- Helen Bushell — Director of Programmes
- Virginia McKenna — Co-Founder and Trustee
Funders the charity credits
- Animal Friends
- LIVE.TEAM
- British Airways Holidays
- Vintage Roots
- Juice
- Deerfoot Recruitment
- Nuchu
- Altamura Distilleries
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Total income
£7.7m
Total spending
£7.1m
Cost of raising funds
£2.1m
Reserves (reported)
£4.9m
Employees
141
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (16/12/2015)
Trustees
- Michael John Reynerchair
- Andrew Mura Muiruri
- Arabella Lack
- JENNY SEAGROVE
- Jessica Montgomery-Ruben
- MICHAEL DRAKE
- Navindu Katugampola
- Nicky Whitehead
- Sean Daniel Cassidy
- Sharon Peake
- Tracey Greaves
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £7.7m | £7.1m |
| 31/03/2024 | £6.1m | £6.1m |
| 31/03/2023 | £5.7m | £6.3m |
| 31/03/2022 | £6.1m | £5.4m |
| 31/03/2021 | £5.9m | £6.8m |
Common questions
Is THE BORN FREE FOUNDATION financially healthy?
The accounts state that the charity achieved a total income of £7.7 million and generated an operating surplus of £0.4 million for the year ended 31 March 2025. Free reserves stood at £4.881 million, which is slightly above the trustees' stated target range of £4.6 million to £4.8 million, providing financial security for future plans. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Saffery LLP.
Who funds THE BORN FREE FOUNDATION?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE BORN FREE FOUNDATION as a grant recipient include THE PAUL JENNINGS AND JEANETTE DUNN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE BRITTEN FOUNDATION, SYLVANUS CHARITABLE TRUST, OLSEN ANIMAL TRUST, R G HILLS CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE PAUL JENNINGS AND JEANETTE DUNN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £13k |
| THE BRITTEN FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £10k |
| THE BRITTEN FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £10k |
| THE BRITTEN FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £10k |
| SYLVANUS CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £5k |
| OLSEN ANIMAL TRUST | FY2022 | £4k |
| R G HILLS CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £1k |
| THE A AND R WOOLF CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £1k |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE ADDERSTONE FOUNDATION | 1 | £1.2m |
| PROJECT GIVING BACK | 1 | £324k |
| BEAULAND LIMITED | 1 | £57k |
| THE DANSON FOUNDATION | 1 | £4k |