BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION

Registered charity 225971 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · Wikidata: Q4970039 · Wikipedia · also known as BHF, THE HEART FOUNDATION · also registered in Scotland as SC039426 (OSCR)

The BHF is the UK's largest independent funder of cardiovascular research in the UK. For over 60 years BHF has pioneered life-saving research that has helped halve the number of deaths from heart and circulatory disease in the UK. BHF also helps provide vital support and information for the 7.4m people living in the UK with heart and circulatory disease.

Objects

THE OBJECTS FOR WHICH THE FOUNDATION IS ESTABLISHED ARE: TO ATTACK AND DEFEAT DISEASES AND CONDITIONS OF THE HEART AND CIRCULATION AND OTHER DISEASES ILLNESS OR CONDITIONS, BY UNDERTAKING AND PROMOTING RESEARCH FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT INTO THEIR CAUSE, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION, PROMOTING THEIR DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND ALLEVIATING SUFFERING AND PROMOTING THE WELFARE OF PERSONS AFFLICTED AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR SUCH PERSONS.

Area of benefit: UNRESTRICTED

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

Causes: The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: Camden, London, England (from the postcode on the register)

Received the assets of No Smoking Day (as stated in the register file; not confirmed against the register) — merger registered 11/01/2013.

Source: Charity Commission register of merged charities (OGL v3.0).

Latest income

£410.6m

Latest spending

£427.1m

Registered

1963

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £6.0m for the year ended 31 March 2025, a shift from the previous year's surplus, primarily due to an 81% decline in retail profits and increased fundraising costs. Despite this, the charity maintains a strong liquidity position with £346.4m in cash and investments, significantly exceeding its stated reserves policy requirement of £142m to £176m. The trustees confirm the organization is well-positioned to continue operations and meet its grant obligations.

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

What the accounts disclose

Related-party transaction: Trustee Prof Sadaf Farooqi is at Univ of Cambridge, which received £7.0m.

“Professor Sadaf Farooqi is a Trustee of the Charity and Wellcome Principal Research Fellow and Professor of Metabolism and Medicine at the University of Cambridge, which received £7.0m grant funding during the year (2024: £14.0m)”

“Professor Brian Walker is a Trustee of the Charity and Strategic Adviser and Professor of Medicine at Newcastle University, which received £1.8m grant funding during the year (2024: £1.4m).”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Trustee Prof Brian Walker is at Newcastle Univ, which received £1.8m.

“Professor Sadaf Farooqi is a Trustee of the Charity and Wellcome Principal Research Fellow and Professor of Metabolism and Medicine at the University of Cambridge, which received £7.0m grant funding during the year (2024: £14.0m)”

“Professor Brian Walker is a Trustee of the Charity and Strategic Adviser and Professor of Medicine at Newcastle University, which received £1.8m grant funding during the year (2024: £1.4m).”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Trading subsidiary: British Heart Foundation Ventures Limited, BHF Shops Limited

“BHF has two wholly owned trading subsidiary undertakings: British Heart Foundation Ventures Limited and BHF Shops Limited.”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by BDO LLP. Discloses 3 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.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints handling
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
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)

Answers and figures the charity gave in Part A of its annual return to the Charity Commission. They are self-declared: not verified by the Commission or by this site. Only positive answers and figures are listed; items not listed are simply not shown.

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2025

Volunteers: 20,000
Government income: £300,000 — contracts £300,000 (1); under 1% of the £410,600,000 total gross income on the same return
Employees paid over £60,000: 180 (£60,001–£70,000: 79; £70,001–£80,000: 47; £80,001–£90,000: 19; £90,001–£100,000: 15; £100,001–£110,000: 8; £110,001–£120,000: 2; £120,001–£130,000: 1; £140,001–£150,000: 1; £150,001–£200,000: 6; £200,001–£250,000: 2)
Has a trading subsidiary
Grant-making is its main activity

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2024

Volunteers: 21,000
Government income: £2,181,605 — contracts £360,000 (1), grants £1,821,605 (1); under 1% of the £398,900,000 total gross income on the same return
Employees paid over £60,000: 150 (£60,001–£70,000: 65; £70,001–£80,000: 39; £80,001–£90,000: 20; £90,001–£100,000: 11; £100,001–£110,000: 7; £110,001–£120,000: 1; £130,001–£140,000: 1; £140,001–£150,000: 1; £150,001–£200,000: 4; £200,001–£250,000: 1)
Has a trading subsidiary
Grant-making is its main activity

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2023

Volunteers: 13,900
Government income: £3,700,000 — grants £3,700,000 (1); under 1% of the £381,300,000 total gross income on the same return
Employees paid over £60,000: 115 (£60,001–£70,000: 52; £70,001–£80,000: 26; £80,001–£90,000: 13; £90,001–£100,000: 15; £100,001–£110,000: 1; £110,001–£120,000: 1; £130,001–£140,000: 2; £140,001–£150,000: 1; £150,001–£200,000: 3; £200,001–£250,000: 1)
Has a trading subsidiary
Grant-making is its main activity

Source: this charity’s annual returns on the Charity Commission register.

In the news

Recent coverage mentioning this charity by name (automated match; headlines belong to their publishers).

New College report with British Heart Foundation shows stark cardiovascular health inequalities for people in England with severe mental illness rcpsych.ac.uk · 12/11/2026
Community fundraising effort delivers £500 for British Heart Foundation research inyourarea.co.uk · 12/11/2026
Toolstation Colleagues Go Off Road and Raise Over £3,000 for British Heart Foundation with Bike Ride constructionmaguk.co.uk · 12/11/2026
'Valued' British Heart Foundation charity shop in Hornchurch will close - here's when romfordrecorder.co.uk · 09/11/2026
Northamptonshire village bakery raises £1,200 for British Heart Foundation after 'traumatic experience' in January northantstelegraph.co.uk · 21/10/2026
Northamptonshire bakery raises £1,200 for British Heart Foundation after customer suffers cardiac arrest in shop northamptonchron.co.uk · 21/10/2026
New British Heart Foundation report reveals 500 NI lives could be saved a year with ‘stronger preventions’ belfasttelegraph.co.uk · 20/10/2026
British Heart Foundation says ‘huge heartfelt thank you’ to supporters ahead of Uckfield shop closure sussexexpress.co.uk · 20/10/2026

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — British Heart Foundation (matched by registered charity number).

UK research funding (UKRI Gateway to Research)

Property (HM Land Registry)

532 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (5 freehold). All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Trustpilot: British Heart Foundation Furniture & Electrical Stores scores 2.2/5 from 5,858 reviews (source) — reviews usually concern the charity’s shops or services, not its charitable performance.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook (644,223 likes) · instagram (129K followers)

Advertised salaries (public job ads)

Roles this charity has advertised on CharityJob, matched on the exact employer name. A different source from the statutory pay bands above: these are asking salaries for vacancies, not what anyone was paid.

Customer Feedback Ambassador — £25,000 per year + benefits · Birmingham (Hybrid) · posted 1 week ago (seen 21/08/2026)
Events Executive · Hybrid work in London
Sales Assistant · Watford
Warehouse Assistant · Watford
Book Department Volunteer · Bristol BS7 8BG
Admin Volunteer - London · London NW1
Admin Volunteer - London · London NW1
Homewares Volunteer · Maidstone ME14 1HT

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Total income

£410.6m

Total spending

£427.1m

Cost of raising funds

£47.2m

Reserves (reported)

£106.5m

Employees

4,545

Reported reserves equal ~3.0 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 2.6 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 11.5% of total income — above the median for charities its size (3.2%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Received assets from another charity (10/11/2026) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (30/03/2026) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (23/03/2026) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (14/02/2026) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (18/12/2025) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.
Received assets from another charity (29/07/2025) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

Karen Frankchair
David Boynton
Dr Annalisa Jenkins
Louise Wilson FCIPD
Manju Malhotra
Mark Ashton-Rigby
Professor Brian Robert Walker
Professor Jane Armitage
Professor Simon Ray
Roisin Donnelly

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

Operates in: Isle Of Man · Northern Ireland · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£410.6m	£427.1m
31/03/2024	£398.9m	£416.7m
31/03/2023	£381.3m	£370.1m
31/03/2022	£351.7m	£297.3m
31/03/2021	£225.3m	£242.3m

Common questions

Is BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £6.0m for the year ended 31 March 2025, a shift from the previous year's surplus, primarily due to an 81% decline in retail profits and increased fundraising costs. Despite this, the charity maintains a strong liquidity position with £346.4m in cash and investments, significantly exceeding its stated reserves policy requirement of £142m to £176m. The trustees confirm the organization is well-positioned to continue operations and meet its grant obligations. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by BDO LLP.

Who funds BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION?

Funders whose own accounts filings name BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION as a grant recipient include REUBEN FOUNDATION, THE AMATEURS TRUST, ROSETREES, MASONIC SAMARITAN FUND, MOONDANCE FOUNDATION.

Known funders

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

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
REUBEN FOUNDATION	FY2022	£755k
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£500k	Grants to institutions
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£500k	Total
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£500k	Total
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£500k	Grants to institutions
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£500k	Grants to institutions
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£450k	Grants to institutions
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£450k	Grants to institutions
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£450k	Grants to institutions
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£400k	Grants to institutions
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£400k	Grants to institutions
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£350k	Grants to institutions
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£350k	Grants to institutions
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£300k	Grants to institutions
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£300k	Grants to institutions
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£300k	Grants to institutions
R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£300k	Grants to institutions
THE PENNIES FOUNDATION	FY2025	Unverified read£257k	Grant to institution
THE AMATEURS TRUST	FY2021	£200k
ROSETREES	FY2023	£168k
THE THALES CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	Unverified read£156k
MASONIC SAMARITAN FUND	FY2022	£150k	BHF Masonic Charitable Foundation PhD Studentships
THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITED	FY2022	Unverified read£115k
MOONDANCE FOUNDATION	FY2021	£112k	Health
THE PENNIES FOUNDATION	FY2021	£93k	Grant to institution
THE PENNIES FOUNDATION	FY2023	Unverified read£91k
THE PENNIES FOUNDATION	FY2024	£80k
PETER DIXON CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£75k
THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITED	FY2023	£73k
THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITED	FY2021	£68k
THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITED	FY2024	£68k
WHEELER MILL FOUNDATION	FY2025	Unverified read£59k
THE FRANCES AND AUGUSTUS NEWMAN FOUNDATION	FY2022	£55k	Research grant
THE SHANTA FOUNDATION	FY2024	£52k
THE SHANTA FOUNDATION	FY2023	£52k
GENESYS LEGACY PROJECT LTD	FY2024	£50k
UBS UK Donor-Advised Foundation	FY2020	£50k	Charitable activities
THE 3 TS CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	Unverified read£50k
THE ADA HILLARD CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£48k
The Trevor Hemmings Foundation	FY2023	£40k	Medical Grants
THE ADA HILLARD CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£39k
THE ADA HILLARD CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£38k
TWO HANDS CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£37k
THE ADA HILLARD CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£36k
THE LIDBURY FAMILY TRUST	FY2024	£36k
PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£36k
PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£36k
PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£36k
PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2022	£36k
P F CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£35k

Grants marked “Unverified read” were flagged by automated checks as possibly misread from the funder’s filed accounts. They are listed, but left out of the totals, counts and funder relationships this site computes.

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
Community Foundation North East	10/02/2018	£250	General charitable purposes
Community Foundation North East	02/10/2017	£250	General charitable purposes
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£650	EH
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£451	EH
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£650	EH
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£451	EH
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£460	E2
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£529	E2
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£445	E2
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£486	E2
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£460	E2
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£529	E2
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£445	E2
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£486	E2
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£453	Environmental Services
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£580	Environmental Services
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£485	Environmental Services
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£453	Environmental Services
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£580	Environmental Services
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£485	Environmental Services
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£458	Recycling Credits Services Supplies And Services Waste Mgt - Recycling Environmental Services
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£338	Recycling Credits Services Supplies And Services Waste Mgt - Recycling Environmental Services
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£381	Recycling Credits Services Supplies And Services Waste Mgt - Recycling Environmental Services
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£496	Recycling Credits Services Supplies And Services Waste Mgt - Recycling Environmental Services
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council	—	£458	Recycling Credits Services Supplies And Services Waste Mgt - Recycling Environmental Services

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.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
HEART RESEARCH UK	1	£60k
THE ALAN EDWARD HIGGS CHARITY	1	£9k
MOORE KINGSTON SMITH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION	1	£3k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE BRITISH SOCIETY FOR HEART FAILURE.

THE BRITISH SOCIETY FOR HEART FAILURE income £1.1m
HEART RESEARCH UK income £3.4m
BRITISH CARDIAC RESEARCH TRUST income £5k
THE HEART RESEARCH INSTITUTE (UK) income £847k
BLACK HEART FOUNDATION (UK) LIMITED income £1.3m
PCHF UK income £117k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION	£410.6m	—	—	above	—	no doubt
THE BRITISH SOCIETY FOR HEART FAILURE FY2025	£1.1m	—	2	unclear	—	no doubt
HEART RESEARCH UK FY2025	£3.4m	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
BRITISH CARDIAC RESEARCH TRUST FY2025	£5k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE HEART RESEARCH INSTITUTE (UK) FY2025	£847k	—	—	above	—	no doubt
BLACK HEART FOUNDATION (UK) LIMITED FY2025	£1.3m	—	—	unclear	—	noted

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