KDS Foundation
The Foundation?s main charitable activity is as a prize-awarding body. As such, each prize-winner will benefit from the charity. The Foundation?s aim is to further its charitable educational and research objects by stimulating research into significant but neglected questions relevant to today?s world, in the broad context of the Arts and Sciences
Objects
The objects of the Charity are:a) to advance education and promote research for the public benefit including by the awarding of an annual prize to research and write a work in the Arts and Sciences, and publishing and widely disseminating such work; and b) to further such purposes as are exclusively charitable under the laws of England and Wales and for the public benefit as the Trustees shall think fit.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net income surplus of £26,490 for the year ended 30 June 2025, resulting in total net assets of £40,623. The trustees confirmed the charity is a going concern, supported by cash balances of £141,203. Free/unrestricted reserves stood at £37,656, which the trustees aim to maintain to meet future funding requirements for prize award cycles.
What the accounts disclose
“The number of employees who received remuneration and benefits amounting to more than £60,000 in 2025 is 1 (2024: 1). Salaries and associated social security costs paid during the year were £64,525”
“The number of employees who received remuneration and benefits amounting to more than £60,000 in 2025 is 1 (2024: 1).”
“The Trustees aim to establish a level of unrestricted funds, in real terms, that ensures they can meet the future funding requirements of the existing and next Prize award cycle.” — page 9
“From 11 April 2023 BXR Advisory Partners LLP licensed office space at 40-44 Newman Street to the Foundation. The amount payable for the year to 30 June 2025 was £15,000 (2024: £15,000). As at 30 June 2025, a liability in the form of an accrual was raised for BXR Advisory Partners LLP to the amount of £303 for the office space. One of the trustees of the Foundation is a partner of BXR Advisory Partners LLP” — page 23
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media 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 30/06/2025
- Volunteers: 12
- Employees paid over £60,000: 1 (£60,001–£70,000: 1)
Trustees
- PETER KADASchair
- DANIEL HALLGARTEN
- TEHSEEN YUNUS OVERY
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 30/06/2025 | £347k | £321k |
| 30/06/2024 | £2k | £228k |
| 30/06/2023 | £2k | £317k |
| 30/06/2022 | £2k | £125k |
| 30/06/2021 | £2k | £380k |
Common questions
Is KDS Foundation financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net income surplus of £26,490 for the year ended 30 June 2025, resulting in total net assets of £40,623. The trustees confirmed the charity is a going concern, supported by cash balances of £141,203. Free/unrestricted reserves stood at £37,656, which the trustees aim to maintain to meet future funding requirements for prize award cycles. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Macalvins Limited.
What does the highest-paid employee of KDS Foundation earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the more than £60,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds KDS Foundation?
Funders whose own accounts filings name KDS Foundation as a grant recipient include THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £348k | Relief of those in need |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE MELETE FOUNDATION | 1 | £10k |
| THE FENTON ARTS TRUST | 1 | £5k |
| CHARLES S FRENCH CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £2k |
| THE HISCOX FOUNDATION | 1 | £1k |
| THE PAUL MELLON CENTRE FOR STUDIES IN BRITISH ART | 1 | £1k |
Charities like this
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KDS Foundation | £347k | more than £60,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE KAYS FOUNDATION | £1.1m | £374,502 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| DHD FOUNDATION | £106k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| KD-UK, KENNEDY'S DISEASE UK | £40k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| DVS Foundation | £123k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| FIELDNOTES | £25k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |