The Royal African Society
The RAS continued running its various programmes and publications in 2022, including African Affairs, African Arguments, the Africa APPG, Film Africa festival, public events programme and a high profile 120th anniversary celebration.
Activities & Mission
The RAS continued running its various programmes and publications in 2022, including African Affairs, African Arguments, the Africa APPG, Film Africa festival, public events programme and a high profile 120th anniversary celebration.
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
Region
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 95% of UK Arts charities with income £100K to £1M (sample: 962). How is this calculated?
Higher than 32% of UK Arts charities with income £100K to £1M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 6% of UK Arts charities with income £100K to £1M. (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 2024.
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | £765,160 | £1,119,251 | £1,033,258 | £36,095 | £28,025 | 10 / 25 |
| 2023 | £599,496 | £821,509 | £754,297 | £383,737 | £383,737 | 10 / 35 |
| 2022 | £1,037,032 | £860,984 | £815,518 | £577,926 | £550,676 | 9 / 20 |
| 2021 | £651,471 | £676,567 | £638,781 | £438,489 | £430,823 | 8 / 20 |
| 2020 | £520,458 | £563,952 | £529,798 | £428,373 | £390,934 | 8 / 1 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about The Royal African Society
What does The Royal African Society do?
The RAS continued running its various programmes and publications in 2022, including African Affairs, African Arguments, the Africa APPG, Film Africa festival, public events programme and a high profile 120th anniversary celebration.
How much income did The Royal African Society report in 2024?
The Royal African Society reported total income of £765k and reported expenditure of £1.12m for the financial year ending 2024, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is The Royal African Society?
The Royal African Society has a program ratio of 135.0%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 95% of UK Arts charities with income £100K to £1M (sample of 962 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was The Royal African Society registered as a charity?
The Royal African Society was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 10 June 1997 as charity number 1062764. It has been registered for 29 years.
Who runs The Royal African Society?
The Royal African Society is governed by a board of 12 trustees. The chair of trustees is Arunma Oteh. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does The Royal African Society operate?
The Royal African Society operates across 3 areas: Northern Ireland, Scotland and England And Wales.
Is The Royal African Society a registered charity?
Yes — The Royal African Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1062764.
Details
10 Thornhaugh Street
London
Registry Information
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Major UK charities in the same primary sector, drawn from the curated priority cohort.
Trustees
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 1 other charity
Sectors & Classifications
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated