THE FOOTBALL FOUNDATION
Latest income
£150.1m
Latest spending
£159.3m
Registered
2000
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that unrestricted funds decreased to £23.0m, which remains significantly higher than the trustees' stated policy target of £3.2m. The charity reported a net expenditure of £9.3m for the year, funded primarily by confirmed donations from the Premier League, The FA, and the Government.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: no lower than £3.2m (held: £23.0m)
“Given these requirements the Trustees consider the target for unrestricted funds should be no lower than £3.2m.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The Premier League Stadium Fund Limited incurs direct salary costs, and also where appropriate contributes towards a proportion of salary costs incurred by the Football Foundation. This charge forms part of the annual administrative expenses recharged to the company, £0.3m in 2025 (2024: £0.8m).
“The Premier League Stadium Fund Limited incurs direct salary costs, and also where appropriate contributes towards a proportion of salary costs incurred by the Football Foundation. This charge forms part of the annual administrative expenses recharged to the company, £0.3m in 2025 (2024: £0.8m). Mr R Master is the CEO of the Premier League.”
“Mr M W Bullingham is the Chief Executive Officer of The FA and Director of the Premier League Stadium Fund Limited. The FA donated £23.4m (2024: £17.8m) to the Foundation during the year of which £5.9m (2024: nil) remained outstanding at year-end.” — page 51
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The FA donated £23.4m to the Foundation during the year.
“The Premier League Stadium Fund Limited incurs direct salary costs, and also where appropriate contributes towards a proportion of salary costs incurred by the Football Foundation. This charge forms part of the annual administrative expenses recharged to the company, £0.3m in 2025 (2024: £0.8m). Mr R Master is the CEO of the Premier League.”
“Mr M W Bullingham is the Chief Executive Officer of The FA and Director of the Premier League Stadium Fund Limited. The FA donated £23.4m (2024: £17.8m) to the Foundation during the year of which £5.9m (2024: nil) remained outstanding at year-end.” — page 51
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The Premier League donated £20.5m to the Foundation during the year.
“The Premier League Stadium Fund Limited incurs direct salary costs, and also where appropriate contributes towards a proportion of salary costs incurred by the Football Foundation. This charge forms part of the annual administrative expenses recharged to the company, £0.3m in 2025 (2024: £0.8m). Mr R Master is the CEO of the Premier League.”
“Mr M W Bullingham is the Chief Executive Officer of The FA and Director of the Premier League Stadium Fund Limited. The FA donated £23.4m (2024: £17.8m) to the Foundation during the year of which £5.9m (2024: nil) remained outstanding at year-end.” — page 51
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The Government (via Sport England) donated £96.1m to the Foundation during the year.
“The Premier League Stadium Fund Limited incurs direct salary costs, and also where appropriate contributes towards a proportion of salary costs incurred by the Football Foundation. This charge forms part of the annual administrative expenses recharged to the company, £0.3m in 2025 (2024: £0.8m). Mr R Master is the CEO of the Premier League.”
“Mr M W Bullingham is the Chief Executive Officer of The FA and Director of the Premier League Stadium Fund Limited. The FA donated £23.4m (2024: £17.8m) to the Foundation during the year of which £5.9m (2024: nil) remained outstanding at year-end.” — page 51
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: The Football Foundation Trading Limited
“The other company included within the Group is the non-charitable wholly owned trading subsidiary The Football Foundation Trading Limited (FFTL)” — page 9
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Robert Sullivan — CEO
Funders the charity credits
- Premier League
- The FA
- Government
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/05/2025)
Total income
£150.1m
Total spending
£159.3m
Reserves (reported)
£22.4m
Employees
111
Trustees
- MARTIN GLENNchair
- Ama Agbeze
- Clare Sumner
- JOHN DAVID PEARCE
- Karen Taylor
- Mark William Bullingham
- Richard Masters
- Simon Thomas Hayes
- Wais Shaifta
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/05/2025 | £150.1m | £159.3m |
| 31/05/2024 | £135.5m | £119.4m |
| 31/05/2023 | £106.3m | £90.7m |
| 31/05/2022 | £79.1m | £102.5m |
| 31/05/2021 | £43.0m | £73.9m |
Common questions
Is THE FOOTBALL FOUNDATION financially healthy?
The accounts state that unrestricted funds decreased to £23.0m, which remains significantly higher than the trustees' stated policy target of £3.2m. The charity reported a net expenditure of £9.3m for the year, funded primarily by confirmed donations from the Premier League, The FA, and the Government. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by RSM UK Audit LLP.
Who funds THE FOOTBALL FOUNDATION?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE FOOTBALL FOUNDATION as a grant recipient include STREETGAMES UK, MISSION INDIA.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| STREETGAMES UK | FY2025 | £500k |
| MISSION INDIA | FY2023 | £75k |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE BUFFINI CHAO FOUNDATION | 1 | £30k |
| Z V M RANGOONWALA FOUNDATION | 1 | £15k |
| RANDEREE CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £15k |
| CHILDREN CHANGE COLOMBIA | 1 | £3k |
| CBRE UK CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £250 |