The Friends Of The British Library

Grants to British Library

Activities & Mission

Grants to British Library

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

£1,639,388

Latest Expenditure

£1,660,160

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 101.3%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 79% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 780). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 100.0%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 100% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 0.5%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 86% 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 £1,639,388

Charitable Activities £0

Other Trading £0

Investments £0

Other Income £0

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £1,660,160

Raising Funds £0

Governance £9,000

Grants to Institutions £1,651,056

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	£1,639,388	£1,660,160	£1,660,160	£3,053	£3,053	0 / 0
2024	£77,691	£68,156				0 / 0
2023	£200,421	£202,621				0 / 6
2022	£11,373	£2,731				0 / 0
2021	£10,160	£77,963				0 / 0

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about The Friends Of The British Library

What does The Friends Of The British Library do?

Grants to British Library

How much income did The Friends Of The British Library report in 2025?

The Friends Of The British Library reported total income of £1.64m and reported expenditure of £1.66m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is The Friends Of The British Library?

The Friends Of The British Library has a program ratio of 101.3%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 79% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 780 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was The Friends Of The British Library registered as a charity?

The Friends Of The British Library was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 14 February 1989 as charity number 328095. It has been registered for 37 years.

Who runs The Friends Of The British Library?

The Friends Of The British Library is governed by a board of 5 trustees. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does The Friends Of The British Library operate?

The Friends Of The British Library operates across 3 areas: Northern Ireland, Scotland and England And Wales.

Is The Friends Of The British Library a registered charity?

Yes — The Friends Of The British Library is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 328095.