AKO FOUNDATION
The Foundation's main activity is to make grants to UK charities and for charitable purposes elsewhere in the world. The priority areas for its grants are initiatives and projects which improve education, promote the arts and combat the climate emergency. The Foundation does not seek applications for grants and will not make grants in response to unsolicited applications received.
Objects
THE OBJECTS OF THE CHARITY ARE:(A) THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION; (B) THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE ARTS, CULTURE, HERITAGE AND SCIENCE; AND(C) ALL OTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.CHARITABLE PURPOSE HAS THE MEANING PRESCRIBED BY THE CHARITIES ACT.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the Foundation held unrestricted reserves of £1,271,882,000 at the end of the financial year, which the trustees consider more than adequate to meet commitments and continue as a grant-making charity. The organization reported a net incoming resource deficit for the year due to high grant expenditures relative to incoming resources, but maintains a substantial cash and investment position. The trustees confirmed there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue in operational existence.
What the accounts disclose
“One employee had remuneration, excluding employer pension contributions and employer national insurance contributions, exceeding £60,000 and within the £140,001 to £150,000 band.” — page 39
“One employee had remuneration, excluding employer pension contributions and employer national insurance contributions, exceeding £60,000 and within the £140,001 to £150,000 band.” — page 39
“The income arising from its interest in AKO Capital LLP in 2025 was £66,574,000”
“The Foundation’s reserves policy is to ensure it maintains adequate funds to meet its commitments and to hold reserves while it identifies appropriate projects to fund. It does not currently hold any restricted funds and thus characterises all funds as unrestricted reserves.”
“David Woodburn, a trustee, is a partner in AKO Capital LLP which is the investment manager of the AKO funds in which assets from the Foundation are invested. The investment by the Foundation is in the Management Shares of these AKO funds and these shares are non-fee paying. Therefore, AKO Capital LLP receives no benefit from these investments by the Foundation.” — page 50
“During 2025 AKO Capital Management Limited, a company which is part of the AKO Capital group, made donations of £4,000 (2024: £6,000) to the Foundation.” — page 50
“David Woodburn, a trustee, is a partner in AKO Capital LLP which is the investment manager of the AKO funds in which assets from the Foundation are invested. The investment by the Foundation is in the Management Shares of these AKO funds and these shares are non-fee paying. Therefore, AKO Capital LLP receives no benefit from these investments by the Foundation.” — page 50
“During 2025 AKO Capital Management Limited, a company which is part of the AKO Capital group, made donations of £4,000 (2024: £6,000) to the Foundation.” — page 50
“The Foundation owns or owned the whole of the issued ordinary share capital of the following subsidiary undertakings: • AKO Subsidiary 2020 Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 12847959.” — page 45
Year-over-year changes
- Employees paid over £60,000: 2 (FY2024) → 1 (FY2025).
Policies the charity declares
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Investment
- Risk management
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025
- Volunteers: 4
- Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (£150,001–£200,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
- Grant-making is its main activity
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024
- Volunteers: 4
- Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (£150,001–£200,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
- Grant-making is its main activity
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023
- Volunteers: 4
- Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (£140,001–£150,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
- Grant-making is its main activity
In the news
- AKO Foundation takes bold steps to combat plastic pollution and malaria
- AKO Foundation Takes Bold Steps to Combat Plastic Pollution and Malaria in Amasaman Community
- AKO Foundation advocates for a robust treaty aimed at eradication of plastic pollution on the occasion of Earth Day
- AKO Foundation advocates for a robust treaty aimed at eradication of plastic pollution, on the occasion of Earth Day
- Founder’s donations send AKO Foundation soaring into the Charity Finance 100 Index
- Wharton School receives $25 million gift from Nicolai Tangen and AKO Foundation
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Trustees
- David Matthew Woodburn
- HENRIK PREBEN SYSE
- Sally Morven Procopis
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £70.2m | £85.6m |
| 31/12/2024 | £120.0m | £75.7m |
| 31/12/2023 | £117.4m | £46.7m |
| 31/12/2022 | £79.1m | £34.8m |
| 31/12/2021 | £268.5m | £41.1m |
Common questions
Is AKO FOUNDATION financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the Foundation held unrestricted reserves of £1,271,882,000 at the end of the financial year, which the trustees consider more than adequate to meet commitments and continue as a grant-making charity. The organization reported a net incoming resource deficit for the year due to high grant expenditures relative to incoming resources, but maintains a substantial cash and investment position. The trustees confirmed there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue in operational existence. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Sayer Vincent LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of AKO FOUNDATION earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £140,001 - £150,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £348k |
| THE WOODLAND TRUST | 1 | £20k |
Charities like this
- THE MAKO FOUNDATION
- ONE KIND ACT
- KDS Foundation
- THE DRW FOUNDATION
- THE MICHAEL AND ILSE KATZ FOUNDATION
- KOKO FOUNDATION
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AKO FOUNDATION | £70.2m | £140,001 - £150,000 | 1 | above | — | no doubt |
| THE MAKO FOUNDATION | £79k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| ONE KIND ACT | £857k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| KDS Foundation | £347k | more than £60,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE DRW FOUNDATION | £2.4m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| THE MICHAEL AND ILSE KATZ FOUNDATION | £137k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |