THE ROYAL PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON

Registered charity 286840 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The advancement of education by promoting, encouraging and contributing to the scientific study and practice of Philately in all its branches for the benefit of the public.

Causes: Education/training · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£803k
Latest spending
£936k
Registered
1983
Accounts read
FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that the Society reported a General Fund loss of £113,983 for the year ended 31 December 2024, with total expenditure exceeding total income. The trustees note that cash reserves continue to diminish due to these losses and loan repayments, although the balance sheet was strengthened by significant one-off donations and compensation claims. The Society aims to break even on its General Fund and acknowledges that overcoming the annual deficit will likely require increases in membership subscriptions.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: six months of continuing expendable resources (held: £14.2m)
The Society has an established Reserves Policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested should be at least six months of continuing expendable resources. — page 21
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: RPSL Limited
The Society has a subsidiary company, 100% owned, RPSL Limited — page 12
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Begbies Chartered Accountants. Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Property (HM Land Registry)

2 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (2 freehold); recorded price paid £10.4m. All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)

Total income
£803k
Total spending
£936k
Cost of raising funds
£153k
Reserves (reported)
£13.3m
Employees
7

Reported reserves equal ~170.5 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2025£803k£936k
31/12/2024£748k£857k
31/12/2023£832k£939k
31/12/2022£962k£922k
31/12/2021£826k£794k

Common questions

Is THE ROYAL PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the Society reported a General Fund loss of £113,983 for the year ended 31 December 2024, with total expenditure exceeding total income. The trustees note that cash reserves continue to diminish due to these losses and loan repayments, although the balance sheet was strengthened by significant one-off donations and compensation claims. The Society aims to break even on its General Fund and acknowledges that overcoming the annual deficit will likely require increases in membership subscriptions. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by Begbies Chartered Accountants.

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.

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON FOR IMPROVING NATURAL KNOWLEDGE (COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ROYAL SOCIETY).

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
THE ROYAL PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON£803k0unclearno doubt
THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON FOR IMPROVING NATURAL KNOWLEDGE (COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ROYAL SOCIETY) FY2025£157.6m£440,001 - £450,00052aboveno doubt
THE ROYAL ECONOMIC SOCIETY FY2024£2.4maboveno doubt
THE ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN FY2024£1.7m£100,000 - £119,999unclearno doubt
THE LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON FY2025£2.6m£60,001 - £70,0001unclear1.2%no doubt
ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY FY2025£684k£60,001 - £70,0002aboveno doubt

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