MUSICIANS BENEVOLENT FUND
The Musicians Benevolent Fund relieves need amongst professional musicians and their dependants and advances musical education for young musicians.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that total income decreased by 20% to £5.7 million, primarily due to a reduction in legacy income, while total expenditure was £9.2 million. The charity reported a net loss of £1.1 million after investment gains, bringing total reserves down to £47.9 million from £49.0 million in the prior year. The trustees note that the current level of funding is not sustainable in the long term and intend to reduce reserves in a controlled manner until they reach an appropriate level.
What the accounts disclose
“All fourteen employees earning more than £60,000 (2024: ten) participated in the defined contribution scheme.” — page 33
“Legacies made up 67% of our income for the year (2024: 70%) and continues to be a crucial income stream.”
“The financial statements also consolidate the results of the charity’s wholly-owned subsidiary, MBF Trading Limited.”
Year-over-year changes
- Employees paid over £60,000: 10 (FY2024) → 14 (FY2025).
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (01/05/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (17/09/2024)
- Received assets from another charity (10/05/2021)
- Received assets from another charity (28/04/2021)
- Received assets from another charity (06/08/2018)
Trustees
- Clifford Gary Fluet
- Isabel Garvey
- James Lewis Benner
- Jonathan Peter Higgins
- Louisa McCann
- Nicola Cornwell
- Robert Duncan James Shennan
- Roger James Boulton
- Samuel Donald Jackson
- Stephanie Tina Haughton-Campbell
- Stephen Christopher Neil Swift
- Victoria Charlotte Davies
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £5.7m | £9.2m |
| 31/12/2024 | £7.1m | £10.0m |
| 31/12/2023 | £6.5m | £11.3m |
| 31/12/2022 | £5.6m | £11.2m |
| 31/12/2021 | £7.1m | £12.6m |
Common questions
Is MUSICIANS BENEVOLENT FUND financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total income decreased by 20% to £5.7 million, primarily due to a reduction in legacy income, while total expenditure was £9.2 million. The charity reported a net loss of £1.1 million after investment gains, bringing total reserves down to £47.9 million from £49.0 million in the prior year. The trustees note that the current level of funding is not sustainable in the long term and intend to reduce reserves in a controlled manner until they reach an appropriate level. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Buzzacott Audit LLP.
Who funds MUSICIANS BENEVOLENT FUND?
Funders whose own accounts filings name MUSICIANS BENEVOLENT FUND as a grant recipient include HUO FAMILY FOUNDATION (UK) LIMITED, THE CHARLES SKEY CHARITABLE TRUST, THE KATHLEEN SMITH FOUNDATION, THE ADRIAN SWIRE CHARITABLE TRUST, THE OFENHEIM CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| CONTINUO FOUNDATION | 1 | £126k |
| THE HEADLEY TRUST | 1 | £20k |
| THE IDLEWILD TRUST | 1 | £12k |
| THE OLDHURST TRUST | 1 | £12k |
| The Patricia Routledge Foundation | 1 | £8k |
| THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITED | 1 | £5k |
| THE GEORGE CADBURY TRUST (GEORGE HENRY T AND LAURENCE J CADBURY SECTIONS) | 1 | £3k |
| THE VERNON ELLIS FOUNDATION | 1 | £3k |
Charities like this
- THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MUSICIANS OF GREAT BRITAIN
- MUSIC MINDS MATTER
- BENEVOLENT FUND OF THE INCORPORATED SOCIETY OF MUSICIANS
- MUSIC RELIEF FOUNDATION
- THE MOZARTISTS
- THE ACTORS' BENEVOLENT FUND
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSICIANS BENEVOLENT FUND | £5.7m | — | 14 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MUSICIANS OF GREAT BRITAIN | £1.4m | £60,001 - £70,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| MUSIC MINDS MATTER | £1.3m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| BENEVOLENT FUND OF THE INCORPORATED SOCIETY OF MUSICIANS | £354k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| MUSIC RELIEF FOUNDATION | £121k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| THE MOZARTISTS | £689k | £80,001 - £90,000 | 1 | below | — | no doubt |