The Design Museum

The principal activity of The Design Museum is to operate charitable and educational activities located at the Museum in London and the trading activities of the subsidiary, Design Museum Enterprises Limited.

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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.

Region

England

Financial Information

Latest Income

£17,177,844

Latest Expenditure

£14,860,362

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 52.2%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Overall Efficiency 60.4%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Administrative Ratio 40.5%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £4,090,346

Charitable Activities £7,556,528

Other Trading £5,394,726

Investments £83,850

Other Income £52,394

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £8,969,180

Raising Funds £5,891,182

Governance £123,501

Grants to Institutions £0

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	£17,177,844	£14,860,362	£8,969,180	£30,896,548	£0	191 / 37
2024	£12,448,300	£13,933,516	£8,960,489	£28,579,063	£0	180 / 60
2023	£8,904,630	£11,806,196	£7,827,554	£30,064,279	£0	166 / 88
2022	£8,233,420	£11,537,571	£7,067,755	£32,965,845	£0	139 / 0
2021	£10,063,962	£8,475,369	£5,211,283	£36,269,996	£3,537,011	132 / 0

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about The Design Museum

What does The Design Museum do?

How much income did The Design Museum report in 2025?

The Design Museum reported total income of £17.18m and reported expenditure of £14.86m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

When was The Design Museum registered as a charity?

The Design Museum was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 10 January 1989 as charity number 800630. It has been registered for 37 years.

Who runs The Design Museum?

The Design Museum is governed by a board of 12 trustees. The chair of trustees is Stuart Roden. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does The Design Museum operate?

The Design Museum operates in England, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.

Is The Design Museum a registered charity?

Yes — The Design Museum is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 800630.