Lake District Foundation

Promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment and cultural heritage of the Lake District by inspiring people to care for and contribute to the natural environment and cultural heritage of the Lake District and Cumbria; andproviding funding and support for conservation, environmental and cultural initiatives in the Lake District and Cumbria

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Activities & Mission

Areas of Operation

Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.

Local Authority

Cumbria

Financial Information

Latest Income

£796,170

Latest Expenditure

£920,900

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 107.1%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 83% of UK Environment charities with income £100K to £1M (sample: 219). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 92.6%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 35% of UK Environment charities with income £100K to £1M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 8.0%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 30% of UK Environment charities with income £100K to £1M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £241,078

Charitable Activities £543,042

Other Trading £2,158

Investments £9,892

Other Income £0

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £853,028

Raising Funds £67,872

Governance £6,202

Grants to Institutions £257,217

Other Expenditure £0

Financial Trend

Annual Returns

As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.

One or more years show a significant change in income (over ±100%) compared with the prior year. This usually reflects a merger, transfer of activities, restated accounts, or a one-off legacy — not necessarily a real change in operating scale. See the methodology for context.

The Commission record shows this related event on the register:

Asset transfer in in 2019 — Nurture Cumbria Ltd (organisation 4039586)

Financial Year	Income	Expenditure	Charitable Spending	Net Assets	Reserves	Staff
2025	£796,170	£920,900	£853,028	£243,287	£231,256	11 / 0
2024	£1,217,352	£1,235,702	£1,161,316	£368,017	£343,411	11 / 0
2023	£1,053,807	£1,100,566	£1,070,054	£386,367	£333,103	9 / 0
2022	£640,512	£328,420	£265,255	£433,126	£289,551	8 / 0
2021	£317,921	£358,213				0 / 0

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about Lake District Foundation

What does Lake District Foundation do?

How much income did Lake District Foundation report in 2025?

Lake District Foundation reported total income of £796k and reported expenditure of £921k for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is Lake District Foundation?

Lake District Foundation has a program ratio of 107.1%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 83% of UK Environment charities with income £100K to £1M (sample of 219 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was Lake District Foundation registered as a charity?

Lake District Foundation was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 9 August 2017 as charity number 1174201. It has been registered for 9 years.

Who runs Lake District Foundation?

Lake District Foundation is governed by a board of 14 trustees. The chair of trustees is Keith Ashcroft. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does Lake District Foundation operate?

Lake District Foundation operates in Cumbria, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.

Is Lake District Foundation a registered charity?

Yes — Lake District Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1174201.