THE MANTA TRUST
Registered charity 1145387 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register
The charity?s key objectives are the conservation of manta rays and their close relatives, mobula rays throughout the world?s oceans. Manta rays can be considered charismatic megafauna; diving and snorkelling with these creatures is a sought after experience the world over. Our vision is to see these animals thriving in healthy, diverse ocean ecosystems the world over.
Causes: Education/training · Animals · Environment/conservation/heritage · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £140,752 for the year ended 30 June 2025, with total expenditure exceeding income. Free reserves stood at £196,871, which is slightly below the stated policy target of £200,000 to £250,000, though the trustees remain satisfied with the current level.
Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Reserves policy: £200,000 to £250,000 (held: £197k)
“To safeguard the core activities in periods of fluctuating income, the Trustees have established unrestricted reserves to cover six to twelve months of operational costs of £200,000 to £250,000.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Payments to trustees: One Trustee received £720 for providing professional accountancy services.
“One Trustee, received £720 (2024: £945) for providing professional accountancy services. No other Trustees received remuneration during the year.” — page 18
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.
Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Manta Trust (matched by registered charity number).
Funders the charity credits
Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).
- The Save Our Seas Foundation — “The Save Our Seas Foundation has supported the Manta Trust from the charity’s foundation, not only providing funding and guidance for its pr…” (source page)
- The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation — “The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation is supporting the Manta Trust’s core team and charitable aims; enabling us to work towards our vision o…” (source page)
- Focused On Nature — “Focused On Nature collaborates with and supports The Manta Trust’s mission to conserve manta rays and their relatives, and to ensure that th…” (source page)
- Snorkel Venture — “Snorkel Venture is a dedicated supporter of the Manta Trust, helping to fund our research and conservation efforts through a portion of thei…” (source page)
- 71blue — “71blue is supporting our development and implementation of a new Education & Diversity Strategy that will guide our efforts to engage and in…” (source page)
Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 30/06/2025)
Cost of raising funds
£187k
Reported reserves equal ~2.1 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).
Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (97% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.
Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 19.2% of total income — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 4.9%) (benchmarks).
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (21/11/2020) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
- Christine Noel Neubeiser
- Eleanor Jane Curtis
- JONATHAN HUGH BROOKE DIAMOND · trustee of 1 other charity
- Martin John Attrill
- Nick Peter Bonney
- PAUL WILLIAM JACKSON
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Brazil · British Indian Ocean Territory · Cameroon · Costa Rica · Ecuador · Fiji · French Polynesia · Indonesia · Maldives · Mexico · Micronesia · New Caledonia
Income and spending
Common questions
Is THE MANTA TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £140,752 for the year ended 30 June 2025, with total expenditure exceeding income. Free reserves stood at £196,871, which is slightly below the stated policy target of £200,000 to £250,000, though the trustees remain satisfied with the current level. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds THE MANTA TRUST?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE MANTA TRUST as a grant recipient include THE COLES-MEDLOCK FOUNDATION.
Known funders
Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.
Government & lottery funding
Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).
Funders of similar charities
Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.
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Side by side with its peers
Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.