BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION
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.
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.
What the accounts disclose
“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).”
“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).”
“BHF has two wholly owned trading subsidiary undertakings: British Heart Foundation Ventures Limited and BHF Shops Limited.”
In the news
- Everton in the Community to continue its BEAT Breathlessness Hub thanks to the British Heart Foundation
- Who’s Moving: Change Grow Live, British Heart Foundation, DEC and more
UK research funding (UKRI Gateway to Research)
- Multimodal longitudinal prediction of cerebrovascular disease
- Quality and Safety in Organ Donation Tissue Bank - Expansion to include Pancreas/Islets, Heart and Lungs
- Using continuous intra-cardiac electrogram monitoring to understand cardiovascular outcomes in patients with pacemakers and defibrillators
- Towards a better understanding of cardio and cerebrovascular diseases
- Multimodal longitudinal prediction of cerebrovascular disease
- Relating Environment-use Scenarios in Pregnancy/Infanthood and Resulting airborne material Exposures to child health outcomes (RESPIRE)
- "More of the same is not enough": New Directions in Ageing and Physical Activity
- Towards a better understanding of cardio and cerebrovascular diseases
Property (HM Land Registry)
Advertised salaries (public job ads)
- Customer Feedback Ambassador — £25,000 per year + benefits
- Events Executive
- Sales Assistant
- Warehouse Assistant
- Book Department Volunteer
- Admin Volunteer - London
- Admin Volunteer - London
- Homewares Volunteer
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (30/03/2026)
- Received assets from another charity (23/03/2026)
- Received assets from another charity (14/02/2026)
- Received assets from another charity (18/12/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (29/07/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (02/06/2025)
Trustees
- Karen Frankchair
- David Boynton
- Dr Annalisa Jenkins
- Louise Wilson FCIPD
- Mark Ashton-Rigby
- Mark FitzPatrick CA
- Professor Brian Robert Walker
- Professor Jane Armitage
- Professor Simon Ray
- Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed
- Roisin Donnelly
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, R. DAPHNE PLUNKET CHARITABLE TRUST, ROSETREES, THE THALES CHARITABLE TRUST, MASONIC SAMARITAN FUND.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| 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 |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| JEREMY ALEXANDER SETTLEMENT | 1 | £106k |
| HEART RESEARCH UK | 1 | £60k |
| THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £24k |
| THE LAWSON TRUST CIO | 1 | £18k |
| THE JONES 1986 CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £16k |
| THE CHRISTABELLA CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £14k |
| THE ALAN EDWARD HIGGS CHARITY | 1 | £9k |
| ST EDMUNDS TRUST | 1 | £9k |
Charities like this
- HEART RESEARCH UK
- BOURNEMOUTH HEART CLUB
- THE BRITISH SOCIETY FOR HEART FAILURE
- LONDON HEART HOUSE - FOUNDATION FOR CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
- NATIONAL HEART AND LUNG FOUNDATION
- LONDON HEARTS
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 |
| HEART RESEARCH UK | £3.4m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| BOURNEMOUTH HEART CLUB | £405k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE BRITISH SOCIETY FOR HEART FAILURE | £1.1m | — | 2 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| LONDON HEART HOUSE - FOUNDATION FOR CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION | £229k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| NATIONAL HEART AND LUNG FOUNDATION | £765k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |