The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the Company for the year 1
November 2022 to 31 October 2023. The Annual Report serves the purposes of both a Trustees' report and a
directors' report under company law. The Trustees confirm that the Annual Report and financial statements of
the charitable company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charitable
company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP)
applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in
the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019).
Since the Company qualifies as small under section 382 of the Companies Act 2006, the Strategic Report
required of medium and large companies under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors'
Report) Regulations 2013 has been omitted.
The period to 31 October 2023 represented the eleventh year of the Charity's existence during which it continued to
establish its administrative arrangements and to plan activities for the future and also continued to receive
donations from philanthropic donors. The Trustees are of the opinion that the Charity is in a good position to
attract further philanthropic donors and to continue to engage in charitable projects in the coming years.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's [governing document], the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
The Philanthropy Foundation is a registered charity with broad charitable objectives. It focuses on developing
and supporting charitable projects, in the UK and internationally, in areas which include:
- Advancing the arts, culture, heritage or science, amateur sport and education,
- The relief of those in need, by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other
disadvantage.
The Foundation's remit is to promote philanthropy from individuals who might otherwise be considering
establishing their own trusts and foundations. The Foundation provides opportunities for donors to establish
discrete funds in their name within the Foundation's resources in order to meet donors' philanthropic aims. The
Foundation will provide advice and support to assist donors to identify suitable activities and to develop
partnerships with other organisations, where suitable, to meet the charitable objectives of donors and of the
Foundation.
The Foundation will also make itself available to existing trusts and foundations which, for various reasons, no
longer have the capacity or organisation to continue independently.
The Trustees, having regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charities Commission, in
accordance with Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011, consider that the purpose of activities of the charity satisfy
the requirements of the public benefit as set out in Section 4 of the same Act.
In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance
published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit, including the guidance 'Public benefit: running a
charity (PB2)'.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
The success of the Charity is measured in terms of the grants made and grants for the period totalled £168,271
(2022 - £28,905). The number of recipients of grants decreased in the period to 3 (2022 - 5).
After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate
resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt
the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going
concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
Income for the period totalled £168,271 (2022 - £65,013), of which £136,691 is restricted income and comprises
voluntary donations. Expenditure amounted to £194,295 (2022 -£31,509), comprising grants made, accountancy
fees and other expenditure. There was a net deficit for the year of £26,654 (2022 - surplus of £33,504). Reserves at the end of the period totalled £38,281 (2022 - £64,935).
Donations are recognised in the Restricted Fund and the Trustees distribute this income by making grants.
It is the Trustees' policy to retain a protection of any Gift Aid reclaims in the Unrestricted Fund in order to meet
the ongoing running costs of the charity. The Trustees acknowledge that this needs to be monitored to ensure
that the Unrestricted Fund is able to fund its ongoing costs and also any exceptional circumstances.
The Board of Trustees pays due care and attention to risk management and it is a standing agenda item at all
Board Meetings. The Trustees manage risk constantly in the context of each grant, assessing the merits and risks of each grant they make. Given the diverse nature of the grants, no two are the same and so the maintenance of a formal risk register has given way to a consistent monitoring of finance and administration generally, coupled with the separate examination of each grant.
The Trustees aim to enhance the public profile of the Charity to attract philanthropic donors and to engage in
charitable activities that meet both the donors' wishes and the Charity's objectives.
It is the Trustees aim to seek additional funding from both new and existing supporters of the Charity to help
build a surplus in the unrestricted fund that can be applied in the coming years to further the charitable objects of
the Philanthropy Foundation.
The unrestricted fund has improved. The Trustees aim to build on this success and to increase reserves in the unrestricted fund to secure the longer-term future of the charity.
The Philanthropy Foundation Limited is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was set up
by a Trust deed.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
All new Trustees attend an induction Trustee Board Meeting where their roles are fully explained. They receive
regular information about trustee training and, in the view of the Trustees, have enough knowledge of their
specific field to understand the nature of the Charity and fully comply with the Charity's current views of its
progression. Trustees may claim for reasonable expenses incurred in undertaking the Charity's business, but
they receive no remuneration or other financial benefit. None of the Trustees who served during the period had
any beneficial interest in any contract with the Charity.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The trustees, who are also the directors of The Philanthropy Foundation Limited for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Mr C Pike
Trustee
30 August 2024
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of The Philanthropy Foundation Limited (the charity) for the year ended 31 October 2023.
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
Fiona Howard FCA CTA FMAAT
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The Philanthropy Foundation Limited is a registered charity, number 1145808 and registered company, number 07802097. The principal office is 31 Hill Street, London, W1J 5LS and the principal activity of the charity is developing and supporting charitable projects
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's [governing document], the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Computer costs
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2022 - none).