CANCER RESEARCH UK
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that total income increased by 8% to £735m, driven largely by a £58m rise in legacy gifts. The charity reports a surplus for the year, with unrestricted general funds totaling £292.3m and a defined benefit pension scheme surplus of £16.4m. Reserves are held at £320m, providing approximately 5.2 months of cover against cash outgoings, which exceeds the stated policy minimum of three months.
What the accounts disclose
“The highest paid member of staff is the chief executive” — page 86
“The figures used to calculate the bandings above are inclusive of wages, salaries and benefits but exclusive of social security costs and employer pension contributions.” — page 86
“we revised our reserves requirement from a range of 3–5 months of our total outgoings to a minimum of three months”
“The Charity provides grant funding to the Crick. For more details on the Group’s shareholding in the Crick, see note 14.”
“The Charity provides grant funding to the ICR. Additionally, Cancer Research Technology Limited has commercial revenue sharing agreements in place with the ICR.”
“The Charity provides grant funding to the Crick. For more details on the Group’s shareholding in the Crick, see note 14.”
“The Charity provides grant funding to the ICR. Additionally, Cancer Research Technology Limited has commercial revenue sharing agreements in place with the ICR.”
“The Charity provides grant funding to the Crick. For more details on the Group’s shareholding in the Crick, see note 14.”
“The Charity provides grant funding to the ICR. Additionally, Cancer Research Technology Limited has commercial revenue sharing agreements in place with the ICR.”
Year-over-year changes
- Employees paid over £60,000: 312 (FY2024) → 380 (FY2025).
- Reserves position vs the charity's own policy moved from "within" (FY2024) to "above" (FY2025).
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (23/06/2026)
- Received assets from another charity (30/03/2026)
- Received assets from another charity (14/02/2026)
- Received assets from another charity (24/04/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (24/01/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (20/01/2025)
Trustees
- Catherine Eve Smaje
- Dr Robert James Campbell Easton
- Hitesh Thakrar
- JOANNE MARY SHAW
- Lord Simon Stevens
- Mark Philip Evans
- PROFESSOR GERARD IAN EVAN
- PROFESSOR NICHOLAS CLWYD JONES
- PROFESSOR PAMELA RENATE KEARNS PhD FRCPCH
- Professor Dame Nancy Jane Rothwell
- Professor Doreen Ann Cantrell FRS
- Professor Dr Reinier Harm Medema
- Rakshit Kapoor
- Sarah Whitney
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £734.8m | £714.7m |
| 31/03/2024 | £684.2m | £692.4m |
| 31/03/2023 | £718.8m | £640.8m |
| 31/03/2022 | £668.4m | £665.9m |
| 31/03/2021 | £582.1m | £570.6m |
Common questions
Is CANCER RESEARCH UK financially healthy?
The accounts state that total income increased by 8% to £735m, driven largely by a £58m rise in legacy gifts. The charity reports a surplus for the year, with unrestricted general funds totaling £292.3m and a defined benefit pension scheme surplus of £16.4m. Reserves are held at £320m, providing approximately 5.2 months of cover against cash outgoings, which exceeds the stated policy minimum of three months. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of CANCER RESEARCH UK earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £250,001 - £260,000 band, and 380 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds CANCER RESEARCH UK?
Funders whose own accounts filings name CANCER RESEARCH UK as a grant recipient include CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK, GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL CHILDREN'S CHARITY, Flat Iron Trust, The Hugh Mumford Charitable Trust, THE TANLAW FOUNDATION.
Known funders
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| SIR SAMUEL SCOTT OF YEWS TRUST | 3 | £40k |
| ROBERT LUFF FOUNDATION LIMITED | 3 | £30k |
| RICHER SOUNDS FOUNDATION | 2 | £40k |
| DUDLEY AND GEOFFREY COX CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £19k |
| THE GEORGE CADBURY TRUST (GEORGE HENRY T AND LAURENCE J CADBURY SECTIONS) | 2 | £17k |
| ARDONAGH COMMUNITY TRUST | 2 | £16k |
| SUSANNA PEAKE CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £10k |
| THE LIGHT FUND COMPANY | 2 | £10k |