The Aurora Trust

Also known as: The Ashden Charitable Trust, The Ashden Trust

Grant making

Activities & Mission

Grant making

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

Italy United States

Region

England

Financial Information

Latest Income

£1,852,667

Latest Expenditure

£3,048,226

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 154.3%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 96% of UK Charitable activities charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 1335). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 93.8%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 37% of UK Charitable activities charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 6.7%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 36% of UK Charitable activities 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 £982,400

Charitable Activities £0

Other Trading £0

Investments £749,494

Other Income £120,773

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £2,858,950

Raising Funds £189,276

Governance £14,711

Grants to Institutions £2,457,037

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.

Financial Year	Income	Expenditure	Charitable Spending	Net Assets	Reserves	Staff
2025	£1,852,667	£3,048,226	£2,858,950	£40,024,025	£0	15 / 0
2024	£2,123,928	£2,707,734	£2,470,465	£43,768,336	£0	14 / 0
2023	£737,181	£2,633,185	£2,366,813	£42,886,058	£0	14 / 0
2022	£1,798,806	£3,151,019	£2,760,116	£45,690,271	£0	14 / 0
2021	£2,035,028	£1,299,396	£1,136,708	£42,088,262	£0	14 / 0

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about The Aurora Trust

What does The Aurora Trust do?

Grant making

How much income did The Aurora Trust report in 2025?

The Aurora Trust reported total income of £1.85m and reported expenditure of £3.05m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is The Aurora Trust?

The Aurora Trust has a program ratio of 154.3%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 96% of UK Charitable activities charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 1335 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was The Aurora Trust registered as a charity?

The Aurora Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 12 January 1990 as charity number 802623. It has been registered for 36 years.

Who runs The Aurora Trust?

The Aurora Trust is governed by a board of 4 trustees. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does The Aurora Trust operate?

The Aurora Trust operates across 3 areas: Italy, United States and England.

Is The Aurora Trust a registered charity?

Yes — The Aurora Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 802623.