WCMC
To evaluate and highlight the many values of biodiversity and put authoritative biodiversity knowledge at the centre of decision-making.
Latest income
£20.1m
Latest spending
£20.9m
Registered
1989
Accounts read
FY2024
Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts
The accounts state that the Group recorded a net decrease in funds of £761,241 for the year, primarily due to the planned use of restricted reserves for the Protected Planet programme. The Trustees report that the balance sheet position remains strong with net current assets of £5,597,587 and unrestricted reserves of £4,480,519, which exceed the stated policy target of six months of unrestricted expenditure. The charity continues as a going concern with no material uncertainties disclosed.
What the accounts disclose
Highest-paid employee band: £130,001 - £140,000 — above the median for charities its size (£130k)
“In the band £130,001 - £140,000 1”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: six months of unrestricted expenditure (held: £4.5m)
“it has been agreed that the organisation should aim to hold unrestricted reserves to enable the organisation to operate at full capacity for at least six months, even if all income were to cease.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Purchases from Fitzwilliam College where a Trustee holds a Trusteeship.
“In the year 2024, purchases of £9,983 (2023: £12,070) were made from Fitzwilliam college, where a WCMC Trustee holds a Trusteeship.” — page 51
“The same Trustee is also a Council Member of the University of Cambridge where purchases of £18,142 were made (2023: £32,415) and revenue earned was £14,124 (2023: £Nil).” — page 51
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Purchases from University of Cambridge where a Trustee is a Council Member.
“In the year 2024, purchases of £9,983 (2023: £12,070) were made from Fitzwilliam college, where a WCMC Trustee holds a Trusteeship.” — page 51
“The same Trustee is also a Council Member of the University of Cambridge where purchases of £18,142 were made (2023: £32,415) and revenue earned was £14,124 (2023: £Nil).” — page 51
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Payments to WWF UK where the Chief Scientist is a Programme Committee Member.
“In the year 2024, purchases of £9,983 (2023: £12,070) were made from Fitzwilliam college, where a WCMC Trustee holds a Trusteeship.” — page 51
“The same Trustee is also a Council Member of the University of Cambridge where purchases of £18,142 were made (2023: £32,415) and revenue earned was £14,124 (2023: £Nil).” — page 51
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Purchases from Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) where a Board member of WCMC Europe is an employee.
“In the year 2024, purchases of £9,983 (2023: £12,070) were made from Fitzwilliam college, where a WCMC Trustee holds a Trusteeship.” — page 51
“The same Trustee is also a Council Member of the University of Cambridge where purchases of £18,142 were made (2023: £32,415) and revenue earned was £14,124 (2023: £Nil).” — page 51
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Collaboration with Science-Based Targets Network (SBTN) where the CEO is a Council Member.
“In the year 2024, purchases of £9,983 (2023: £12,070) were made from Fitzwilliam college, where a WCMC Trustee holds a Trusteeship.” — page 51
“The same Trustee is also a Council Member of the University of Cambridge where purchases of £18,142 were made (2023: £32,415) and revenue earned was £14,124 (2023: £Nil).” — page 51
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: WCMC Europe asbl
“The accounts present the consolidated position for 2024 and 2023 which includes the subsidiary entity of WCMC Europe asbl.” — page 11
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)
Total income
£20.1m
Total spending
£20.9m
Reserves (reported)
£7.8m
Employees
233
Trustees
- Ashley Gilroy Mark Highfieldchair
- ALASDAIR DAVID POORE
- Katherine Elizabeth Jones
- Mette Wilkie
- Professor Bhaskar Vira
- ROBERT ANDREW POWELL
- Rajkumar Sethurajan
- Suraya Mailvaganam
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2024 | £20.1m | £20.9m |
| 31/12/2023 | £21.8m | £22.1m |
| 31/12/2022 | £21.7m | £18.8m |
| 31/12/2021 | £16.4m | £16.3m |
| 31/12/2020 | £15.3m | £15.2m |
Common questions
Is WCMC financially healthy?
Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the Group recorded a net decrease in funds of £761,241 for the year, primarily due to the planned use of restricted reserves for the Protected Planet programme. The Trustees report that the balance sheet position remains strong with net current assets of £5,597,587 and unrestricted reserves of £4,480,519, which exceed the stated policy target of six months of unrestricted expenditure. The charity continues as a going concern with no material uncertainties disclosed. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by Peters Elworthy & Moore.
What does the highest-paid employee of WCMC earn?
Per its FY2024 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £130,001 - £140,000 band.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK government | 14/02/2024 | £16k | Accelerating TRAnsformation through Capitals Knowledge (A-Track) |
| UK government | 14/02/2024 | £205k | Accelerating TRAnsformation through Capitals Knowledge (A-Track) |
| UK government | 22/01/2024 | £94k | OBSERVATION OF ECOSYSTEM CHANGES FOR ACTION (OBSGESSION) |
| UK government | 22/01/2024 | £7k | Empowering citizens in collaborative environmental compliance assurance via MOnitoring, REporting and action (MoRe4nature) |
| UK government | 22/01/2024 | £7k | OBSERVATION OF ECOSYSTEM CHANGES FOR ACTION (OBSGESSION) |
| UK government | 22/01/2024 | £856 | Empowering citizens in collaborative environmental compliance assurance via MOnitoring, REporting and action (MoRe4nature) |
| UK government | 27/11/2023 | £8k | REinforce Science-Policy interfaces in innovative ways to boost effectiveness and INterconnectedness of biodiversity and climate policies (RESPIN) |
| UK government | 27/11/2023 | £73k | REinforce Science-Policy interfaces in innovative ways to boost effectiveness and INterconnectedness of biodiversity and climate policies (RESPIN) |
| UK government | 28/03/2023 | £37k | NetworkNature+ - Scaling up nature-based solutions to achieve 2030 policy goals |
| UK government | 28/03/2023 | £102k | NetworkNature+ - Scaling up nature-based solutions to achieve 2030 policy goals |
| UK government | 03/01/2023 | £73k | OBSERVING AND MAPPING MARINE ECOSYSTEMS NEXT GENERATION TOOLS (OBAMA-NEXT) |
| UK government | 03/01/2023 | £67k | OBSERVING AND MAPPING MARINE ECOSYSTEMS NEXT GENERATION TOOLS (OBAMA-NEXT) |
| UK government | 12/12/2022 | £15k | Building a European Network for the Characterisation and Harmonisation of Monitoring Approaches for Research and Knowledge on Soils (BENCHMARKS) |
| UK government | 12/12/2022 | £26k | Building a European Network for the Characterisation and Harmonisation of Monitoring Approaches for Research and Knowledge on Soils (BENCHMARKS) |
| UK government | 29/11/2022 | £81k | Co-operation for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CO-OP4CBD) |
| UK government | 29/11/2022 | £135k | Co-operation for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CO-OP4CBD) |
| UK government | 11/11/2022 | £79k | understanding Plural values, intersectionality, Leverage points, Attitudes, Norms, behaviour and social lEarning in Transformation for Biodiversity decision making (PLANET4B) |
| UK government | 11/11/2022 | £121k | understanding Plural values, intersectionality, Leverage points, Attitudes, Norms, behaviour and social lEarning in Transformation for Biodiversity decision making (PLANET4B) |
| UK government | 01/08/2022 | £179k | Strengthening Understanding and Strategies of business To Assess and Integrate Nature (SUSTAIN) |
| UK government | 01/08/2022 | £278k | Strengthening Understanding and Strategies of business To Assess and Integrate Nature (SUSTAIN) |
| UK government | 06/07/2022 | £82k | Science for Evidence-based and sustainabLe decIsions about NAtural capital |
| UK government | 06/07/2022 | £61k | The Biodiversity Nexus: transformative change for sustainability |
| UK government | 06/07/2022 | £95k | Creating leverage to enhance biodiversity outcomes of global biomass trade |
| UK government | 06/07/2022 | £101k | Bio Knowledge Agora: Developing the Science Service for European Research and Biodiversity Policymaking |
| UK government | 06/07/2022 | £84k | Creating leverage to enhance biodiversity outcomes of global biomass trade |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| ROYAL SOCIETY OF WILDLIFE TRUSTS | 3 | £303k |
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £1.0m |
| ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION FUND | 1 | £1.0m |
| The Brindle Foundation | 1 | £275k |
| THE FIDELIS FOUNDATION | 1 | £222k |
| THE CONSTANCE TRAVIS CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £180k |
| THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION | 1 | £179k |
| CHK Foundation | 1 | £120k |
Charities like this
- WORLD LAND TRUST
- RESTORE OUR PLANET
- Becht Foundation
- DERBYSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED
- TRANSITION BRO GWAUN LTD
- CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL UK
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WCMC | £20.1m | £130,001 - £140,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| WORLD LAND TRUST | £9.7m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| RESTORE OUR PLANET | £162k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| Becht Foundation | £8.5m | $250,001 - $260,000 | 2 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| DERBYSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED | £5.5m | £80,001 - £90,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| TRANSITION BRO GWAUN LTD | £185k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |