Charity Accounts Intelreading the accounts so you don’t have to

THE MARTIN SMITH FOUNDATION

Registered charity 1150753 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The charity's aim and object is to be charitable in any part of the world and in particular (but without prejudice to thegenerality of the foregoing): the performing arts; education; ecology and the environment; recreational sport; the relief ofpoverty; and religion.

Causes: Education/training · The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty · Religious Activities · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Amateur Sport · Environment/conservation/heritage · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · Get email alerts

Latest income
£1.3m
Latest spending
£226k
Registered
2013
Accounts read
FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted funds amounted to £2,242,413, which exceeds the charity's stated reserves policy target of three to six months of expenditure. The trustees acknowledge this position and intend to award further grants to reduce reserves to a level more closely aligned with the policy. The auditor confirmed that the use of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate with no material uncertainties identified.

Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Donations (95% of income)
“There were donations received in the year of £1,265,993 (2023: £527,047).” — page 5
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: three and six month's expenditure (held: £2.2m)
“It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month's expenditure, not allowing for special projects.” — page 5
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Legal and professional fees were paid to Charles Russell Speechlys LLP of £Nil (2023: £319). B G Peerless, who is a trustee, is a partner at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP.
“Legal and professional fees were paid to Charles Russell Speechlys LLP of £Nil (2023: £319). B G Peerless, who is a trustee, is a partner at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP.” — page 19
“During the year to 31 December 2024, the charity made donations totalling £14,350 (2023: £25,000) to the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Trust. Sir Martin Smith, who is a trustee, is also a trustee of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Trust.” — page 19
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Donations totalling £14,350 to the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Trust. Sir Martin Smith, who is a trustee, is also a trustee of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Trust.
“Legal and professional fees were paid to Charles Russell Speechlys LLP of £Nil (2023: £319). B G Peerless, who is a trustee, is a partner at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP.” — page 19
“During the year to 31 December 2024, the charity made donations totalling £14,350 (2023: £25,000) to the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Trust. Sir Martin Smith, who is a trustee, is also a trustee of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Trust.” — page 19
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Saffery LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)

Total income
£1.3m
Total spending
£226k
Cost of raising funds
£5k
Reserves (reported)
£2.2m
Employees
0

Reported reserves equal ~119.2 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (95% 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: 0.4% of total income — below the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2024£1.3m£226k
31/12/2023£580k£391k
31/12/2022£40k£444k
31/12/2021£31k£210k
31/12/2020£31k£194k

Common questions

Is THE MARTIN SMITH FOUNDATION financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted funds amounted to £2,242,413, which exceeds the charity's stated reserves policy target of three to six months of expenditure. The trustees acknowledge this position and intend to award further grants to reduce reserves to a level more closely aligned with the policy. The auditor confirmed that the use of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate with no material uncertainties identified. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by Saffery LLP.

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.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
BONAMY CHARITABLE TRUST1£7k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE SMITH FOUNDATION.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
THE MARTIN SMITH FOUNDATION£1.3m—0above—no doubt
THE SMITH FOUNDATION FY2025£13.4m£100,001 - £110,0009above—no doubt
MARTIN CHARITABLE TRUST FY2026£157k—0unclear—no doubt
CHRISTINA SMITH FOUNDATION FY2025£250k—0unclear—no doubt
THE ANTHONY V MARTIN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION FY2025£484k—0unclear—no doubt
SWIMATHON FOUNDATION FY2025£771k—0below—no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.