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The British Trust For Ornithology

Also known as: B T O

Ornithological research

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Activities & Mission

Ornithological research

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.

Financial Information

Latest Income
£8,712,000
Latest Expenditure
£9,028,000

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 83.4%
% of income going directly to charitable activities
Overall Efficiency 80.5%
% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)
Administrative Ratio 20.2%
Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £2,801,000
Charitable Activities £4,618,000
Other Trading £1,189,000
Investments £104,000
Other Income £0

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £7,270,000
Raising Funds £1,735,000
Governance £84,352
Grants to Institutions £3,833
Other Expenditure £23,000

Financial Trend

Annual Returns

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

Financial YearIncomeExpenditureCharitable SpendingNet AssetsReservesStaff
2025
£8,712,000
£9,028,000£7,270,000£6,538,000£2,670,000163 / 44000
2024
£9,463,000
£8,037,000£6,215,000£6,703,000£3,150,000155 / 40000
2023
£7,134,000
£7,035,000£5,608,000£4,812,000£2,165,000151 / 40000
2022
£7,842,000
£6,572,000£5,301,000£2,090,000£1,849,000149 / 40000
2021
£6,187,000
£6,127,000£4,544,000-£734,000£1,068,000133 / 40000

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about The British Trust For Ornithology

What does The British Trust For Ornithology do?

Ornithological research

How much income did The British Trust For Ornithology report in 2025?

The British Trust For Ornithology reported total income of £8.71m and reported expenditure of £9.03m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

When was The British Trust For Ornithology registered as a charity?

The British Trust For Ornithology was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 23 March 1964 as charity number 216652. It has been registered for 62 years.

Who runs The British Trust For Ornithology?

The British Trust For Ornithology is governed by a board of 13 trustees. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does The British Trust For Ornithology operate?

The British Trust For Ornithology operates across 3 areas: Northern Ireland, Scotland and England And Wales.

Is The British Trust For Ornithology a registered charity?

Yes — The British Trust For Ornithology is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 216652.

Details

Address
BRITISH TRUST FOR ORNITHOLOGY
THE NUNNERY
THETFORD
IP24 2PU
Website
www.bto.org
Registration Date
23 March 1964
Status
Registered

Registry Information

Organisation Number
216652
Charity Number
216652

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Trustees

Dominic Edward Buscall
Dr Geeta Ludhra
Dr Rachel Clara Thomas
Emma Dresser
Emma Jane Thornton
Iain Coucher
Jamie Dunning
Jane Elizabeth Miller
Joel Meade Ziff
Prof Zoe Georgina Davies
Professor Stephen Geoffrey Willis
Also governs 1 other charity
Simon Marquis
Stephen Jonathan Metcalfe

Also Known As

  • B T O

Data & trust

Register data refreshed
14 May 2026
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