The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust
Also known as: The London Symphony Orchestra Trust, Lso Endowment Trust - Lord Mayor's Appeal 2004
The general purpose of the charity is to support the objects of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) and these are to promote, maintain and advance education, particularly musical education and to encourage the arts including the arts of music, drama, mime, dancing and singing. Specifically the Trust actively supports musical education in the form of the LSO's education programme, LSO Discovery.
Activities & Mission
The general purpose of the charity is to support the objects of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) and these are to promote, maintain and advance education, particularly musical education and to encourage the arts including the arts of music, drama, mime, dancing and singing. Specifically the Trust actively supports musical education in the form of the LSO's education programme, LSO Discovery.
Grants
The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust is a grant-making charity: making grants is its main activity.
- Gives grants to
- organisations
- Grants paid (2026)
- £4,511,673
- Who it helps
- children and young people, other charities or voluntary bodies and other defined groups
- 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.
Region
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 99% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 292). How is this calculated?
Higher than 66% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 69% 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
Expenditure Categories
Financial Trend
Annual Returns
As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2026.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | £1,116,624 | £4,641,616 | £4,525,790 | £25,574,303 | £619,000 | 0 / 0 |
| 2025 | £2,705,888 | £1,535,129 | £1,422,736 | £28,306,296 | £110,000 | 0 / 0 |
| 2024 | £726,050 | £402,417 | £309,730 | £24,044,320 | £870,250 | 0 / 0 |
| 2023 | £1,098,452 | £637,573 | £618,398 | £22,199,410 | £466,522 | 0 / 0 |
| 2022 | £1,930,790 | £294,274 | £195,373 | £22,474,052 | £269,447 | 0 / 0 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust
What does The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust do?
The general purpose of the charity is to support the objects of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) and these are to promote, maintain and advance education, particularly musical education and to encourage the arts including the arts of music, drama, mime, dancing and singing. Specifically the Trust actively supports musical education in the form of the LSO's education programme, LSO Discovery.
How much income did The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust report in 2026?
The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust reported total income of £1.12m and reported expenditure of £4.64m for the financial year ending 2026, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust?
The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust has a program ratio of 405.3%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 99% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 292 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust registered as a charity?
The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 9 April 1964 as charity number 233700. It has been registered for 62 years.
Who runs The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust?
The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust is governed by a board of 1 trustee. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust operate?
The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust operates in London, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.
Is The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust a registered charity?
Yes — The London Symphony Orchestra Endowment Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 233700.
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Registry Information
Other notable Arts charities
Major UK charities in the same primary sector, drawn from the curated priority cohort.
Trustees
Sectors & Classifications
Also Known As
- The London Symphony Orchestra Trust
- Lso Endowment Trust - Lord Mayor's Appeal 2004
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 9 November 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated