THE ORWELL FOUNDATION
PROVISION OF ANNUAL PRIZES, CULTURAL EVENTS AND DEBATES
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that unrestricted reserves fell to £46,353 from £120,988 in the prior year, a decline attributed to spending down reserves after being turned down for grants due to previously high reserve levels. The trustees note the charity is operating in a challenging fundraising environment but confirm adequate resources to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“The updated reserves policy therefore recommends that our reserves be kept between £50, 000 and £100, 000”
“During the period a trustee was paid a total of £332 for work done on behalf of the charity (2024£600).” — page 49
“During the period a trustee was paid a total of £332 for work done on behalf of the charity (2024£600).” — page 49
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (01/04/2021)
Trustees
- Lord Nigel Kim Darroch KCMGchair
- Andrew Peck
- Deborah Lincoln
- Gavin Kelly
- Jack Sedman
- Janine Gibson
- Kamran Abbasi
- Najma Finlay
- SU-MEI THOMPSON
- Sameer Padania
- Stephen Armstrong
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 30/08/2025 | £194k | £268k |
| 30/08/2024 | £222k | £267k |
| 30/08/2023 | £205k | £236k |
| 30/08/2022 | £128k | £175k |
| 30/08/2021 | £191k | £127k |
Common questions
Is THE ORWELL FOUNDATION financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted reserves fell to £46,353 from £120,988 in the prior year, a decline attributed to spending down reserves after being turned down for grants due to previously high reserve levels. The trustees note the charity is operating in a challenging fundraising environment but confirm adequate resources to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds THE ORWELL FOUNDATION?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE ORWELL FOUNDATION as a grant recipient include JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION, CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION | FY2021 | £40k | The Orwell Prize for Exposing Britain’s Social Evils 2022 |
| CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £1k |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £323k |
| PRISM THE GIFT FUND | 1 | £219k |
| NORTHUMBERLAND NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION | 1 | £40k |
| THE CHRISTOPHER AND HENRY OLDFIELD TRUST | 1 | £25k |
| THE COLYER-FERGUSSON CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £15k |
| THE BORROWS CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £10k |
| THE SIR BERNARD & LADY SCHREIER FOUNDATION | 1 | £6k |
| THE DULVERTON TRUST | 1 | £5k |
Charities like this
- THE SANDERSON FOUNDATION
- THE ELYSIUM FOUNDATION LIMITED
- THE OCTOPUS FOUNDATION
- THE REED FOUNDATION
- THE BARBOUR FOUNDATION
- FOUX FOUNDATION
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE ORWELL FOUNDATION | £194k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE SANDERSON FOUNDATION | £236k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE ELYSIUM FOUNDATION LIMITED | £107k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| THE OCTOPUS FOUNDATION | £329k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE REED FOUNDATION | £2.3m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE BARBOUR FOUNDATION | £2.6m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |