Musicians Benevolent Fund

Also known as: Mbf, Help Musicians UK, Help Musicians

The Musicians Benevolent Fund relieves need amongst professional musicians and their dependants and advances musical education for young musicians.

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Activities & Mission

The Musicians Benevolent Fund relieves need amongst professional musicians and their dependants and advances musical education for young musicians.

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.

Country

Northern Ireland Scotland

Region

England And Wales

Financial Information

Latest Income

£5,651,000

Latest Expenditure

£9,194,000

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 132.1%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 97% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 339). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 81.2%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 19% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 21.1%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 16% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £4,873,000

Charitable Activities £7,000

Other Trading £45,000

Investments £726,000

Other Income £0

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £7,467,000

Raising Funds £1,727,000

Governance £214,000

Grants to Institutions £80,000

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.

Financial Year	Income	Expenditure	Charitable Spending	Net Assets	Reserves	Staff
2025	£5,651,000	£9,194,000	£7,467,000	£47,878,000	£7,448,000	70 / 148
2024	£7,062,000	£10,034,000	£8,371,000	£49,046,000	£33,310,000	70 / 27
2023	£6,512,000	£11,268,000	£9,708,000	£49,140,000	£34,389	72 / 30
2022	£5,636,000	£11,196,000	£9,568,000	£52,917,000	£38,310,000	62 / 305
2021	£7,131,000	£12,562,000	£10,949,000	£63,738,000	£43,700,000	69 / 305

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about Musicians Benevolent Fund

What does Musicians Benevolent Fund do?

The Musicians Benevolent Fund relieves need amongst professional musicians and their dependants and advances musical education for young musicians.

How much income did Musicians Benevolent Fund report in 2025?

Musicians Benevolent Fund reported total income of £5.65m and reported expenditure of £9.19m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is Musicians Benevolent Fund?

Musicians Benevolent Fund has a program ratio of 132.1%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 97% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 339 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was Musicians Benevolent Fund registered as a charity?

Musicians Benevolent Fund was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 17 October 1963 as charity number 228089. It has been registered for 63 years.

Who runs Musicians Benevolent Fund?

Musicians Benevolent Fund is governed by a board of 12 trustees. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does Musicians Benevolent Fund operate?

Musicians Benevolent Fund operates across 3 areas: Northern Ireland, Scotland and England And Wales.

Is Musicians Benevolent Fund a registered charity?

Yes — Musicians Benevolent Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 228089.