The Royal Literary Fund
Also known as: Rlf
Helps published authors or performed playwrights of several works who are in financial difficulties through grants and pensions. Also runs various activities for the "advancement of public education".
Activities & Mission
Helps published authors or performed playwrights of several works who are in financial difficulties through grants and pensions. Also runs various activities for the "advancement of public education".
Grants
The Royal Literary Fund is a grant-making charity: making grants is its main activity.
- Gives grants to
- individuals
- Total spending (2025)
- £9,135,868
- Only charities with income over £500,000 file a separate grants figure.
- Who it helps
- other defined groups
- What it supports
- education and training and the prevention or relief of poverty
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.
Country
Region
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 95% of UK Charitable activities charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 366). How is this calculated?
Higher than 30% of UK Charitable activities charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 27% of UK Charitable activities 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 2025.
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | £4,268,586 | £9,135,868 | £7,935,287 | £191,719,859 | £191,556,917 | 12 / 0 |
| 2024 | £4,220,139 | £8,328,366 | £7,140,896 | £194,223,578 | £236,900 | 11 / 0 |
| 2023 | £3,160,852 | £7,816,992 | £6,552,303 | £183,978,091 | £1,894,125 | 9 / 0 |
| 2022 | £4,716,593 | £6,737,678 | £5,480,050 | £195,699,786 | £5,420,000 | 7 / 0 |
| 2021 | £3,051,218 | £6,648,232 | £5,486,601 | £181,712,910 | £3,500,000 | 5 / 0 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about The Royal Literary Fund
What does The Royal Literary Fund do?
Helps published authors or performed playwrights of several works who are in financial difficulties through grants and pensions. Also runs various activities for the "advancement of public education".
How much income did The Royal Literary Fund report in 2025?
The Royal Literary Fund reported total income of £4.27m and reported expenditure of £9.14m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is The Royal Literary Fund?
The Royal Literary Fund has a program ratio of 185.9%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 95% of UK Charitable activities charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 366 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was The Royal Literary Fund registered as a charity?
The Royal Literary Fund was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 15 April 1964 as charity number 219952. It has been registered for 62 years.
Who runs The Royal Literary Fund?
The Royal Literary Fund is governed by a board of 22 trustees. The chair of trustees is Sir Ian Craig Blatchford. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does The Royal Literary Fund operate?
The Royal Literary Fund operates across 3 areas: Northern Ireland, Scotland and England And Wales.
Is The Royal Literary Fund a registered charity?
Yes — The Royal Literary Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 219952.
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Registry Information
Other notable Charitable activities charities
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
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 1 other charity
Sectors & Classifications
Also Known As
- Rlf
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 2 November 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated