The Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Notable UK charityAlso known as: Royal National Life-Boat Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, Royal National Lifeboat Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, Lifeboats, RNLI
To save lives, promote safety and rescue service efficiency, and provide relief from disaster at sea and on inland and flood waters; to advance the education of the public in matters relating to sea, inland and flood water safety, and in the history and heritage of the Institution; to relieve/assist those who have been involved in saving lives at sea and on inland and flood waters in any capacity.
Activities & Mission
To save lives, promote safety and rescue service efficiency, and provide relief from disaster at sea and on inland and flood waters; to advance the education of the public in matters relating to sea, inland and flood water safety, and in the history and heritage of the Institution; to relieve/assist those who have been involved in saving lives at sea and on inland and flood waters in any capacity.
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.
Show all 9 areas of operation Hide areas of operation
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 46% of UK Saving of lives charities with income over £10M (sample: 57). How is this calculated?
Higher than 39% of UK Saving of lives charities with income over £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 32% of UK Saving of lives charities with income over £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 2024.
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | £251,300,000 | £250,700,000 | £195,300,000 | £816,500,000 | £152,600,000 | 1859 / 22498 |
| 2023 | £249,600,000 | £242,600,000 | £185,600,000 | £796,300,000 | £124,200,000 | 2445 / 23252 |
| 2022 | £231,800,000 | £233,000,000 | £177,200,000 | £775,300,000 | £113,700,000 | 2405 / 209892 |
| 2021 | £219,912,000 | £199,803,000 | £157,789,000 | £798,200,000 | £96,500,000 | 2398 / 32382 |
| 2020 | £199,171,000 | £172,549,000 | £143,613,000 | £757,400,000 | £81,400,000 | 2059 / 32240 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about The Royal National Lifeboat Institution
What does The Royal National Lifeboat Institution do?
To save lives, promote safety and rescue service efficiency, and provide relief from disaster at sea and on inland and flood waters; to advance the education of the public in matters relating to sea, inland and flood water safety, and in the history and heritage of the Institution; to relieve/assist those who have been involved in saving lives at sea and on inland and flood waters in any capacity.
How much income did The Royal National Lifeboat Institution report in 2024?
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution reported total income of £251.30m and reported expenditure of £250.70m for the financial year ending 2024, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is The Royal National Lifeboat Institution?
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution has a program ratio of 77.7%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 46% of UK Saving of lives charities with income over £10M (sample of 57 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was The Royal National Lifeboat Institution registered as a charity?
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 27 March 1963 as charity number 209603. It has been registered for 63 years.
Who runs The Royal National Lifeboat Institution?
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is governed by a board of 9 trustees. The chair of trustees is Janet Legrand. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does The Royal National Lifeboat Institution operate?
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution operates across 9 areas, including Bangladesh, Guernsey, Ireland and 6 others. The full list is shown on its profile.
Is The Royal National Lifeboat Institution a registered charity?
Yes — The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 209603.
Details
West Quay Road
Poole
BH15 1HZ
Registry Information
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Major UK charities in the same primary sector, drawn from the curated priority cohort.
Trustees
Also governs 2 other charities
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 1 other charity
Sectors & Classifications
Also Known As
- Royal National Life-Boat Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck
- Royal National Lifeboat Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck
- Lifeboats
- RNLI
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated