Country profile

United Kingdom

Definition
In the UK there is no specific legal form for foundations required by law. The terms trust and foundation are used interchangeably to describe charities with private, independent and sustainable income that fulfil their charitable goals mainly by funding and supporting other organisations and individuals.

United Kingdom’s philanthropy profile

€111.32 billion

Pool of assets

€4.3 billion

Total expenditure

No data

Total employment

United Kingdom’s foundations

10,000

foundations

Additional links

More on the sector:

The Association of Charitable Foundations

Further reading:

Funder Commitment on Climate Change Year 2 report, June 2022 Becoming Stronger Foundations, March 2022 ACF Foundation Giving Trends 2021

Member organisation

Aga Khan Foundation Anglo American Foundation Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) Barrow Cadbury Trust Carnegie UK Trust Charities Aid Foundation Children's Investment Fund Foundation City Bridge Foundation Clean Air Fund Concern Worldwide Doc Society European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Fidelity UK Foundation Global Dialogue International Rescue Committee Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust Lloyd’s Register Foundation Mercy Corps Europe Montessori Group MSI Reproductive Choices National Museum Wales NILO Foundation Paul Hamlyn Foundation Practical Action Sightsavers The END Fund The Ethos Foundation The Indigo Trust The National Lottery Community Fund The Partnering Initiative Wellcome Trust