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THE REED FOUNDATION

Registered charity 264728 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as A E REED CHARITABLE TRUST, REED CHARITY

FOR SUCH CHARITABLE PURPOSES AS THE SETTLOR MAY IN WRITING FROM TIME TO TIME IN HIS ABSOLUTE DISCRETION DIRECT AND AFTER THE SETTLOR'S DEATH AS THE TRUSTEES MAY IN THEIR ABSOLUTE DISCRETION DECIDE.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty · Overseas Aid/famine Relief · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Grant history (this charity is a funder) · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£2.3m
Latest spending
£7.0m
Registered
1972
Accounts read
FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that the charity held unrestricted reserves of £20,200,228 at the end of the year, despite a net deficit of £3,161,713 due to reduced investment income. The trustees confirm the charity has sufficient funds to continue its activities and make significant grants in the following year, supported by the sale of properties after the year end.

Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Donations and legacies (56% of income)
“Donations rose by £2,979,216 to £6,958,099 (2023 - £3,978,883).” — page 3
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: sufficient net current assets to enable it to maintain its support of the Christmas Challenge and other emergency appeals in the next year without either having to sell its investments or rely on donations and dividends (held: £20.2m)
“the Charity’s policy is to have sufficient net current assets to enable it to maintain its support of the Christmas Challenge and other emergency appeals in the next year without either having to sell its investments or rely on donations and dividends.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The Foundation received a £1,812,805 dividend (2023: £3,625,610) from Reed Global in the year.
“The Foundation received a £1,812,805 dividend (2023: £3,625,610) from Reed Global in the year.” — page 19
“Cash donations include £5,133,155 (2023: £3,856,630) to The Big Give Trust, which has common Trustees.” — page 19
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Cash donations include £5,133,155 (2023: £3,856,630) to The Big Give Trust, which has common Trustees.
“The Foundation received a £1,812,805 dividend (2023: £3,625,610) from Reed Global in the year.” — page 19
“Cash donations include £5,133,155 (2023: £3,856,630) to The Big Give Trust, which has common Trustees.” — page 19
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The Reed Business School, a company with common Trustees, rented investment properties from the Foundation at a charge of £136,308 (2023: £134,308).
“The Foundation received a £1,812,805 dividend (2023: £3,625,610) from Reed Global in the year.” — page 19
“Cash donations include £5,133,155 (2023: £3,856,630) to The Big Give Trust, which has common Trustees.” — page 19
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Donations received include £2,500 (2023: £2,500) in waived accountancy fees from Reed Specialist Recruitment Limited.
“The Foundation received a £1,812,805 dividend (2023: £3,625,610) from Reed Global in the year.” — page 19
“Cash donations include £5,133,155 (2023: £3,856,630) to The Big Give Trust, which has common Trustees.” — page 19
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: In April 2025, after the year end, the Foundation sold properties with a net book value of £5,430,000 to a subsidiary of Reed Global, a connected party.
“The Foundation received a £1,812,805 dividend (2023: £3,625,610) from Reed Global in the year.” — page 19
“Cash donations include £5,133,155 (2023: £3,856,630) to The Big Give Trust, which has common Trustees.” — page 19
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Hazelwoods LLP. Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

In the news

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

Corporate structure

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)

Total income
£2.3m
Total spending
£7.0m
Reserves (reported)
£20.2m
Employees
0

Reported reserves equal ~34.6 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Investments (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: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2024£2.3m£7.0m
31/12/2023£6.6m£4.0m
31/12/2022£5.1m£2.4m
31/12/2021£1.9m£1.5m
31/12/2020£928k£1.3m

Common questions

Is THE REED FOUNDATION financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity held unrestricted reserves of £20,200,228 at the end of the year, despite a net deficit of £3,161,713 due to reduced investment income. The trustees confirm the charity has sufficient funds to continue its activities and make significant grants in the following year, supported by the sale of properties after the year end. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by Hazelwoods LLP.

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
ST ALDHELM'S CHAPEL TRUST1£60k
THE REISNER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION LTD1£5k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE REED EDUCATIONAL TRUST LIMITED.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
THE REED FOUNDATION£2.3m—0unclear—no doubt
THE REED EDUCATIONAL TRUST LIMITED FY2025£2.0m—0unclear—no doubt
SALTERS' CHARITABLE FOUNDATION FY2025£267k—0unclear—no doubt
THE ZOCHONIS CHARITABLE TRUST FY2025£2.3m—0above—no doubt
RATANBEN ZAVERCHAND KARA FOUNDATION FY2025£162k—0above—no doubt
WINDSOR ROAD FOUNDATION FY2025£101kUnder £60,0000above—no doubt

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