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WHITE DESERT FOUNDATION

Registered charity 1210682 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The White Desert Foundation is committed to supporting pioneering science to combat Climate Change. We do so by utilising White Desert's extensive infrastructure to offer logistical support to scientists studying climate change in Antarctica. We also invest in cutting-edge Blue Carbon (habitat restoration) projects in South Africa (our gateway to Antarctica).

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£635k
Latest spending
£474k
Registered
2024
Accounts read
FY2026

Financial health, per its FY2026 accounts

The accounts state that the charity held total funds of £160,669 at the period end, with unrestricted reserves of £121,177. The trustees consider this financial position to be satisfactory and sufficient to support planned activities, noting that the charity has established a sound financial foundation in its first reporting period.

Automated summary of the FY2026 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: between three and six months of planned charitable expenditure (held: £121k)
“the trustees have determined that the Foundation should maintain unrestricted reserves equivalent to between three and six months of planned charitable expenditure.”
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Payments to trustees: Consultancy services were provided to the Foundation by Eleni Snell, a trustee, for which she received payment from White Desert Africa Proprietary of £16,062.
“During the period, consultancy services were provided to the Foundation by Eleni Snell, a trustee, for which she received payment from White Desert Africa Proprietary of £16,062.” — page 14
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: White Desert Limited provided logistical support services for two charitiable activites during the year - services were provided to Project Life Met with a fair value of £204,791 and to Chilwolf Science with a fair value of £124,667.
“White Desert Limited provided logistical support services for two charitiable activites during the year - services were provided to Project Life Met with a fair value of £204,791 and to Chilwolf Science with a fair value of £124,667.” — page 13
“White Desert Limited is committed to making cash donations of 1% of its turnover. An amount of £67,651 is included in unrestricted funds for the period ended 31 March 2026.” — page 13
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: White Desert Limited is committed to making cash donations of 1% of its turnover. An amount of £67,651 is included in unrestricted funds for the period ended 31 March 2026.
“White Desert Limited provided logistical support services for two charitiable activites during the year - services were provided to Project Life Met with a fair value of £204,791 and to Chilwolf Science with a fair value of £124,667.” — page 13
“White Desert Limited is committed to making cash donations of 1% of its turnover. An amount of £67,651 is included in unrestricted funds for the period ended 31 March 2026.” — page 13
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The Company provided assistance with set-up and establishment activities for the Foundation. Trustee expenses incurred by Rebecca Warne of £38,452 were paid by White Desert Limited.
“White Desert Limited provided logistical support services for two charitiable activites during the year - services were provided to Project Life Met with a fair value of £204,791 and to Chilwolf Science with a fair value of £124,667.” — page 13
“White Desert Limited is committed to making cash donations of 1% of its turnover. An amount of £67,651 is included in unrestricted funds for the period ended 31 March 2026.” — page 13
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The estimated value of staff services provided by White Desert Africa Proprietary Limited during the period was £77,506.
“White Desert Limited provided logistical support services for two charitiable activites during the year - services were provided to Project Life Met with a fair value of £204,791 and to Chilwolf Science with a fair value of £124,667.” — page 13
“White Desert Limited is committed to making cash donations of 1% of its turnover. An amount of £67,651 is included in unrestricted funds for the period ended 31 March 2026.” — page 13
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: During the period, consultancy services were provided to the Foundation by Eleni Snell, a trustee, for which she received payment from White Desert Africa Proprietary of £16,062.
“White Desert Limited provided logistical support services for two charitiable activites during the year - services were provided to Project Life Met with a fair value of £204,791 and to Chilwolf Science with a fair value of £124,667.” — page 13
“White Desert Limited is committed to making cash donations of 1% of its turnover. An amount of £67,651 is included in unrestricted funds for the period ended 31 March 2026.” — page 13
Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

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

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

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2026)

Total income
£635k
Total spending
£474k
Cost of raising funds
£104k
Reserves (reported)
£96k
Employees
0

Reported reserves equal ~2.4 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (100% 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: 16.4% of total income — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 4.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Antarctica · South Africa · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/03/2026£635k£474k

Common questions

Is WHITE DESERT FOUNDATION financially healthy?

Per its FY2026 accounts: The accounts state that the charity held total funds of £160,669 at the period end, with unrestricted reserves of £121,177. The trustees consider this financial position to be satisfactory and sufficient to support planned activities, noting that the charity has established a sound financial foundation in its first reporting period. Its FY2026 accounts were independently examined.

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
WHITLEY ANIMAL PROTECTION TRUST1£475k
The William Brake Foundation1£315k
THE CONSTANCE TRAVIS CHARITABLE TRUST1£180k
THE CORCORAN FOUNDATION1£143k
THE FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF WELL-BEING1£135k
THE REED FOUNDATION1£114k
THE RORY AND ELIZABETH BROOKS FOUNDATION1£100k
THE SHEARS FOUNDATION1£90k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON ANTARCTIC RESEARCH.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
WHITE DESERT FOUNDATION£635k—0within—no doubt
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON ANTARCTIC RESEARCH FY2024£535k£60,001 - £70,0001above—no doubt
THE WHITLEY FUND FOR NATURE FY2025£2.6m——above—noted
THE MELANIE WHITE FOUNDATION LIMITED FY2025£288k—0unclear—no doubt
90 NORTH FOUNDATION FY2025£223k—0below—noted
WHITEHILL CHASE FOUNDATION FY2025£112k—0unclear—no doubt

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