ACTIONAID
ActionAid UK is part of an international federation working in 44 countries. We provide support and humanitarian assistance to people living in poverty and on the margins of survival. Together we demand action at local, national and international level. We don't walk away until we've achieved lasting change.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that unrestricted general reserves stood at £7.3 million, which is above the trustees' stated policy target of £5.45 million. The charity reported a net deficit for the year of £628,000, driven by increased fundraising expenditure and lower committed giving income, though legacy income reached a record high. The trustees forecast that unrestricted funds will break even in 2026 and 2027, with reserves expected to remain in line with policy despite a small projected deficit in 2028.
What the accounts disclose
“the policy requires a target reserve level of £5.45 million +/- £1 million” — page 37
“Hannah Bond was a Trustee of the Disaster Emergencies Committee (DEC). During the course of the year, ActionAid received and recognised income from DEC as set out in note 2a.” — page 87
In the news
Funders the charity credits
- People's Postcode Lottery
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (12/02/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (06/01/2021)
Trustees
- Professor Joy Angela Warmingtonchair
- Abdulrahman Shiil
- Alicia Susanne Videon
- Anne Catherine Tutt
- Faraz Tasnim
- Hemansu Roy Trivedy
- Mx Emma Jane Henrietta Fenton
- Nkechi Aboluwarin Adeboye
- Ruchi Tripathi
- Sacha Ann Mogan Wright
- Stella Eze Ngozi Abani
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £47.6m | £48.3m |
| 31/12/2024 | £46.1m | £48.7m |
| 31/12/2023 | £53.3m | £54.7m |
| 31/12/2022 | £59.6m | £58.1m |
| 31/12/2021 | £49.6m | £47.6m |
Common questions
Is ACTIONAID financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted general reserves stood at £7.3 million, which is above the trustees' stated policy target of £5.45 million. The charity reported a net deficit for the year of £628,000, driven by increased fundraising expenditure and lower committed giving income, though legacy income reached a record high. The trustees forecast that unrestricted funds will break even in 2026 and 2027, with reserves expected to remain in line with policy despite a small projected deficit in 2028. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Crowe U.K. LLP.
Who funds ACTIONAID?
Funders whose own accounts filings name ACTIONAID as a grant recipient include DAVID & RUTH LEWIS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST, Frontline AIDS, THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITED, PEGASUS, THE TOLKIEN TRUST.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postcode Lottery | 10/02/2025 | £3.0m | Regular Grant 2025 |
| Postcode Lottery | 01/12/2023 | £3.0m | Regular Grant 2024 |
| Postcode Lottery | 28/02/2023 | £3.1m | Regular Grant 2023 |
| Postcode Lottery | 09/02/2022 | £3.0m | Regular Grant 2022 |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 21/03/2015 | £484k | Sign Up! |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 26/06/2014 | £524k | Access to justice for women in Liberia. |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 23/06/2014 | £10k | Sign Up! |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 25/10/2012 | £491k | Empowering women and girls in Somaliland to claim their rights |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 12/01/2012 | £6k | Empowering women and girls in Somaliland to claim their rights |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 23/11/2005 | £504k | Reducing Poverty via investments in Water provision in rural pastoral Somal |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 23/11/2004 | £370k | Providing quality education & life skills training through ACS for young pe |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE REED FOUNDATION | 1 | — |
| START NETWORK | 1 | £919k |
| THE BLOOM FOUNDATION | 1 | £114k |
| ALLAN AND NESTA FERGUSON CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT | 1 | £30k |
| ANSON CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £3k |
| THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIATICAL PARISH OF ALL SAINTS, MARGARET STREET, LONDON W1 | 1 | £2k |
| THE JEANNINE VASSILIOU CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £1k |
| THE COMMUNITY OF THE RESURRECTION | 1 | £1k |
Charities like this
- AID4ACTION
- KARUNA ACTION
- AID HUMANITY
- CARE INTERNATIONAL UK
- AID INTERNATIONAL UK
- ACTION INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES (UK)
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACTIONAID | £47.6m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| AID4ACTION | £108k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| KARUNA ACTION | £359k | Under £60,000 | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| AID HUMANITY | £1.7m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CARE INTERNATIONAL UK | £64.1m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| AID INTERNATIONAL UK | £260k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |