GINGKO

Registered charity 1158548 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as GINGKO LIBRARY

GINGKO works to improve mutual understanding between the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and the West. We fund and publish innovative research into the history, art history and religions of the MENA region. We bring together people from MENA and the West for transformative interfaith and intercultural encounters.

Objects

TO ADVANCE EDUCATION CONCERNING THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (MENA) REGION FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£397k
Latest spending
£328k
Registered
2014
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The charity holds unrestricted free reserves of £1,768,136, which significantly exceed its stated policy target of £100,000. The accounts state that resources are adequate to continue as a going concern, with sufficient funds to cover expected income and expenditure for the next 12 months.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: £100,000 (held: £1.8m)
“The trustees aim to hold cash reserves of £100,000.” — page 11
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Payments to trustees: Julie Siddiqi received £500 for professional services and £475.04 in travel expenses.
“Only one of the trustees received remuneration, reimbursement, or other employment-related benefits from the Trust during the year. Julie Siddiqi received £500 for professional services provided to the charity during the year (2024: £nil) and was reimbursed £475.04 in expenses for travel costs (2024: £500).” — page 21
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Armchair Traveller Ltd is a supplier. Dr Barbara Schwepcke is Director of Armchair Traveller Ltd. Services provided at cost.
“Dr Barbara Schwepcke is also the Director of Armchair Traveller Ltd, a company that provides distribution services and storage for all Titles the Charity publishes at cost price.” — page 24
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): instagram

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2023)

Total income
£1.4m
Total spending
£312k
Cost of raising funds
£38k
Reserves (reported)
£0
Employees
1

Reported reserves equal ~0.0 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 7.1 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (94% 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: 2.7% of total income — below the median for charities its size (3.0%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Throughout England

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2025£397k£328k
31/12/2024£303k£321k
31/12/2023£1.4m£312k
31/12/2022£175k£290k
31/12/2021£494k£251k

Common questions

Is GINGKO financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The charity holds unrestricted free reserves of £1,768,136, which significantly exceed its stated policy target of £100,000. The accounts state that resources are adequate to continue as a going concern, with sufficient funds to cover expected income and expenditure for the next 12 months. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds GINGKO?

Funders whose own accounts filings name GINGKO as a grant recipient include ALTAJIR TRUST.

Shared trustees with funders

Register facts shown side by side: a person serves as trustee of both this charity and a funder whose accounts record grants to it. Shared trusteeship is lawful and common; well-run charities manage it through declared-interest procedures.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
ALTAJIR TRUSTFY2025£5k