THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM DEVELOPMENT TRUST
Registered charity 1146784 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as IWM DEVELOPMENT TRUST
On March 7th 2012, the Trust became an independent body for the receipt and management of funds, including the transfer of unrestricted reserves from the Imperial War Museum in pursuit of its objectives.
Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts
Financial health, per its FY2026 accounts
The accounts state that the charity holds unrestricted reserves of £6,524,633, which the trustees consider adequate for current needs. The trustees have assessed the charity's financial position and forecast resources for the next two years, concluding there are no material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern. The charity has no employees and relies on trustees and an operating agreement with the Imperial War Museum.
Automated summary of the FY2026 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.
What the accounts disclose
Largest income source: Investments (75% of income)
“Income consists of donations, investments and rent.” — page 11
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: a level of reserves which will provide a stable basis for its continuing activities while at the same time ensuring excessive funds are not accumulated (held: £6.5m)
“The Trustees’ policy is to maintain a level of reserves which will provide a stable basis for its continuing activities while at the same time ensuring excessive funds are not accumulated.” — page 3
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Grants to Imperial War Museum
“During the year, a grant of £453,245 was approved to be transferred to Imperial War Museum (2024/25 - £500,000). Caro Howell is a Trustee of the Imperial War Museum Development Trust and Director General of Imperial War Museum. In addition, £37,696 was received from Imperial War Museum (2024/25 - £37,696) in respect of annual rent due on Ickleton.” — page 15
“A final grant of £1,896,568 was approved to be transferred to the American Air Museum in 2024/25 in respect of funds held for investment on behalf of the AAM by the Trust. Caro Howell is a trustee of the Imperial War Museum Development Trust and a Vice President of the American Air Museum.” — page 15
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Grants to American Air Museum
“During the year, a grant of £453,245 was approved to be transferred to Imperial War Museum (2024/25 - £500,000). Caro Howell is a Trustee of the Imperial War Museum Development Trust and Director General of Imperial War Museum. In addition, £37,696 was received from Imperial War Museum (2024/25 - £37,696) in respect of annual rent due on Ickleton.” — page 15
“A final grant of £1,896,568 was approved to be transferred to the American Air Museum in 2024/25 in respect of funds held for investment on behalf of the AAM by the Trust. Caro Howell is a trustee of the Imperial War Museum Development Trust and a Vice President of the American Air Museum.” — page 15
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2024)
Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (83% 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: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (2.9%) (benchmarks).
- Keith Cameronchair
- Caro Howell · trustee of 2 other charities
- Hugh Bullock
- Suzanne Raine
Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).
Operates in: Cambridgeshire · City Of Westminster · Manchester City · Southwark
Income and spending
Common questions
Is THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM DEVELOPMENT TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2026 accounts: The accounts state that the charity holds unrestricted reserves of £6,524,633, which the trustees consider adequate for current needs. The trustees have assessed the charity's financial position and forecast resources for the next two years, concluding there are no material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern. The charity has no employees and relies on trustees and an operating agreement with the Imperial War Museum. Its FY2026 accounts were independently examined.
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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Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with KING'S OWN ROYAL BORDER REGIMENT MUSEUM FUND.
Side by side with its peers
Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.