ST JOHN'S COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE
THE COLLEGE'S PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES ARE PROVIDING, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, AN EDUCATION OF THE HIGHEST STANDARD FOR SOME 900 UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS AND ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH OF INTERNATIONAL STANDING.
Latest income
£58.7m
Latest spending
£61.6m
Registered
2010
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the College reported a consolidated surplus of £20.7m for the year ended 30 June 2025, with total net assets standing at £1,038m. Per the trustees' report, free reserves were £16.6m, which is above the stated policy target range of £6.9m to £12.9m. The College maintains a strong endowment of £818m and has sufficient resources to meet its commitments for at least 12 months.
What the accounts disclose
Payments to trustees: Trustee salaries totalled £406,860.
“The total Trustee salaries in the year were £406,860 (2024: £537,335).” — page 63
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Loans to Waterbeach Development Company LLP, a joint venture in which Aquila Investments Ltd (a subsidiary) holds a 17.5% share.
“At 30 June 2025, Aquila Investments Ltd had outstanding unsecured loans of £3,910k (2024: £3,532k) due from Waterbeach Development Company LLP, a joint venture in which it holds a 17.5% share.” — page 63
“In the year to 30 June 2025 the College invested a further £100k in Parlington LLP (2024: £15.742m), a joint venture in which the College holds a 50% share.” — page 63
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Investment in Parlington LLP, a joint venture in which the College holds a 50% share.
“At 30 June 2025, Aquila Investments Ltd had outstanding unsecured loans of £3,910k (2024: £3,532k) due from Waterbeach Development Company LLP, a joint venture in which it holds a 17.5% share.” — page 63
“In the year to 30 June 2025 the College invested a further £100k in Parlington LLP (2024: £15.742m), a joint venture in which the College holds a 50% share.” — page 63
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
In the news
- Music review: Olivier Latry (St John’s College, Cambridge)
- The Household Accounts of Lady Margaret Beaufort (1443–1509): from the archives of St John’s College, Cambridge. Edited by Susan Powell. 240mm. Pp xviii + 776, 18 b&w pls. British Academy Records of Social and Economic History New series 63. Oxford
- The Advent Carol Service at St John's College, Cambridge
- SomeOne gives St John’s College Cambridge a cinematic new identity
- SomeOne reimagines St John’s College Cambridge as the 'Home of Big Ideas’
- SomeOne refreshes the identity for St John’s College, Cambridge
- A carefully curated programme rather than a disc to dip into: Christopher Gray on his first disc with the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge
- Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge: a tradition for today
Corporate structure
- Registered company of the charity Companies House RC000601
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Heather Hancock — Master
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 30/06/2025)
Total income
£66.3m
Total spending
£61.6m
Cost of raising funds
£14.5m
Reserves (reported)
£16.6m
Employees
497
Trustees
- Heather Hancockchair
- Dr Nathan MacDonald
- Dr Sofia Anja Nivarti
- Dr Sylvana Tomaselli
- PROFESSOR JOHN SCOTT RINK
- PROFESSOR STEPHEN ALAN EDGLEY
- Professor Albertina Albors-Llorens
- Professor Alexander James Bird
- Professor Duncan Campbell McFarlane
- Professor Edward Thomas Tipper
- Professor Eric Alexander Miska
- Professor Jason Joseph William Alexander Robinson
- professor Christine Diana Gray
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 30/06/2025 | £58.7m | £61.6m |
| 30/06/2024 | £54.6m | £56.8m |
| 30/06/2023 | £49.7m | £52.1m |
| 30/06/2022 | £36.8m | £48.5m |
| 30/06/2021 | £32.8m | £45.4m |
Common questions
Is ST JOHN'S COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the College reported a consolidated surplus of £20.7m for the year ended 30 June 2025, with total net assets standing at £1,038m. Per the trustees' report, free reserves were £16.6m, which is above the stated policy target range of £6.9m to £12.9m. The College maintains a strong endowment of £818m and has sufficient resources to meet its commitments for at least 12 months. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Crowe U.K. LLP.
Who funds ST JOHN'S COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE?
Funders whose own accounts filings name ST JOHN'S COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE as a grant recipient include THE JOHN BROWNE CHARITABLE TRUST, Friends of the Nations' Libraries.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE JOHN BROWNE CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £100k | |
| Friends of the Nations' Libraries | FY2025 | £6k | Acquisition of Jane Wallas Penfold’s Madeira Flowers, Fruits, and Ferns |
| THE JOHN BROWNE CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £5k | |
| Friends of the Nations' Libraries | FY2025 | £1k | Return of a two-volume edition of Erasmus’ Paraphrases |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 12/10/2010 | £40k | "Interested in Everything: drawing inspiration from the collections of Samuel Butler" |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE ISAAC NEWTON TRUST | 4 | £85k |
| CAMBRIDGE IN AMERICA (UK) LIMITED | 3 | £360k |
| MONDAY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £191k |
| THE KAJATAWA FOUNDATION | 1 | £60k |
| The Portal Trust | 1 | £40k |
| REARDON SMITH NAUTICAL TRUST | 1 | £21k |
| THE C P CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £20k |
| Notting Hill Genesis Community Foundation | 1 | £18k |
Charities like this
- CHURCHILL COLLEGE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
- SELWYN COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE
- THE MASTER FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS OF EMMANUEL COLLEGE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
- JESUS COLLEGE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY AND CITY OF OXFORD OF QUEEN ELIZABETH'S FOUNDATION
- THE MASTER AND FELLOWS OF THE COLLEGE OR HALL OF SAINT CATHARINE THE VIRGIN IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
- THE COLLEGE OR HALL OF VALENCE MARY COMMONLY PEMBROKE COLLEGE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST JOHN'S COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE | £58.7m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| CHURCHILL COLLEGE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE | £28.6m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SELWYN COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE | £15.1m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE MASTER FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS OF EMMANUEL COLLEGE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE | £22.9m | over £105,000 | 3 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| JESUS COLLEGE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY AND CITY OF OXFORD OF QUEEN ELIZABETH'S FOUNDATION | £13.6m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| THE MASTER AND FELLOWS OF THE COLLEGE OR HALL OF SAINT CATHARINE THE VIRGIN IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE | £19.9m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |