The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain
The Society, a charity for musicians run by musicians, provides grants and support to professional musicians and their families in need because of accident, illness or old age whether or not they are members. Founded in 1738 as the Fund for Decay'd Musicians, early members included Handel, Arne, Boyce and Sammartini. Today it maintains its tradition of responding swiftly to needs of colleagues.
Activities & Mission
The Society, a charity for musicians run by musicians, provides grants and support to professional musicians and their families in need because of accident, illness or old age whether or not they are members. Founded in 1738 as the Fund for Decay'd Musicians, early members included Handel, Arne, Boyce and Sammartini. Today it maintains its tradition of responding swiftly to needs of colleagues.
Grants
The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain is a grant-making charity: making grants is its main activity.
- Gives grants to
- individuals
- Total spending (2025)
- £1,270,539
- Only charities with income over £500,000 file a separate grants figure.
- Who it helps
- other defined groups
- What it supports
- 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.
Is this your charity?
Add your logo, photos and tell the story behind the numbers in your own words. Free for our first 50 launch partners.
Learn more about premium profiles See a sample profileAreas 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 12% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 959). How is this calculated?
Higher than 13% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 7% of UK Beneficiary group 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 | £1,420,536 | £1,270,539 | £981,614 | £38,318,391 | £566,598 | 5 / 40 |
| 2024 | £1,512,799 | £1,542,542 | £1,245,326 | £38,238,124 | £166,180 | 5 / 40 |
| 2023 | £1,296,250 | £1,265,226 | £1,031,065 | £35,766,474 | £120,802 | 5 / 35 |
| 2022 | £1,436,776 | £1,374,856 | £1,147,604 | £37,733,220 | £800,000 | 5 / 0 |
| 2021 | £1,395,645 | £1,729,554 | £1,527,979 | £37,199,836 | £475,000 | 4 / 0 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain
What does The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain do?
The Society, a charity for musicians run by musicians, provides grants and support to professional musicians and their families in need because of accident, illness or old age whether or not they are members. Founded in 1738 as the Fund for Decay'd Musicians, early members included Handel, Arne, Boyce and Sammartini. Today it maintains its tradition of responding swiftly to needs of colleagues.
How much income did The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain report in 2025?
The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain reported total income of £1.42m and reported expenditure of £1.27m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain?
The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain has a program ratio of 69.1%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 12% of UK Beneficiary group charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 959 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain registered as a charity?
The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 22 October 1962 as charity number 208879. It has been registered for 64 years.
Who runs The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain?
The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain is governed by a board of 12 trustees. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain operate?
The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain operates across 3 areas: Northern Ireland, Scotland and England And Wales.
Is The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain a registered charity?
Yes — The Royal Society Of Musicians Of Great Britain is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 208879.
Is this your charity?
Add your logo, photos and tell the story behind the numbers in your own words. Free for our first 50 launch partners.
Learn more about premium profiles See a sample profileDetails
Registry Information
Other notable Beneficiary group charities
Major UK charities in the same primary sector, drawn from the curated priority cohort.
Trustees
Also governs 8 other charities
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 2 other charities
Also governs 4 other charities
Sectors & Classifications
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 9 November 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated