The British Museum Friends
To support and assist the British Museum in maintaining and expanding its collections and services to scholars and to the general public.
Activities & Mission
To support and assist the British Museum in maintaining and expanding its collections and services to scholars and to the general public.
Grants
The British Museum Friends is a grant-making charity: making grants is its main activity.
- Gives grants to
- organisations
- Grants paid (2025)
- £4,862,181
- Who it helps
- children and young people, elderly people, other charities or voluntary bodies and the general public
- What it supports
- education and training and arts, culture, heritage, or science
As recorded with the Charity Commission. To ask about applying, use the contact details and check the trustees and latest accounts below.
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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
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Latest Financial Breakdown
Income Sources
Expenditure Categories
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 | £6,882,559 | £6,781,172 | £6,774,971 | £1,897,950 | £1,897,949 | 17 / 18 |
| 2024 | £6,166,391 | £6,354,803 | £6,349,910 | £1,796,563 | £1,796,563 | 16 / 21 |
| 2023 | £6,118,000 | £9,115,000 | £9,114,000 | £1,984,000 | £1,984,000 | 0 / 14 |
| 2022 | £8,003,000 | £8,559,000 | £8,540,000 | £4,981,000 | £981,000 | 0 / 3 |
| 2021 | £5,083,159 | £1,355,805 | £1,355,805 | £5,536,790 | £5,536,790 | 0 / 0 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about The British Museum Friends
What does The British Museum Friends do?
To support and assist the British Museum in maintaining and expanding its collections and services to scholars and to the general public.
How much income did The British Museum Friends report in 2025?
The British Museum Friends reported total income of £6.88m and reported expenditure of £6.78m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
When was The British Museum Friends registered as a charity?
The British Museum Friends was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 9 April 2001 as charity number 1086080. It has been registered for 25 years.
Who runs The British Museum Friends?
The British Museum Friends is governed by a board of 20 trustees. The chair of trustees is George Osborne. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does The British Museum Friends operate?
The British Museum Friends operates in Camden, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.
Is The British Museum Friends a registered charity?
Yes — The British Museum Friends is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1086080.
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Registry Information
Trustees
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 1 other charity
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 2 November 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated