- Alcester Office +44 (0)1789 765522
- Bedford Office +44 (0)1234 400000
- Birmingham, New St. Office +44 (0)121 270 5666
- Birmingham, Newhall St. Office +44 (0)121 703 2606
- Bristol Office +44 (0)1454 275 190
- Cardiff Office +44 (0)29 2240 8700
- Evesham Office +44 (0)1386 425300
- Gatwick Office +44 (0)1293 602890
- Harrow Office +44 (0)20 8907 4366
- Leicester Office +44 (0)116 255 9911
- Leigh Office +44 (0)1942 673311
- Lichfield Office +44 (0)1543 414426
- Luton Office +44 (0)1582 720175
- Northampton Office +44 (0)1604 233 200
- Redditch Office +44 (0)1527 406363
- Solihull Office +44 (0)121 705 2255
- Stopsley Office +44 (0)1582 453 366
- Sutton Coldfield Office +44 (0)121 355 6118
- Tunbridge Wells Office +44 (0)1892 553090
- Walkden Office +44 (0)161 790 1411
- Walsall Office +44 (0)1922 720000
- Warrington Office +44 (0)1925 632267
- Westhoughton Office +44 (0)1942 816515
- Whitefield Office +44 (0)161 796 7920
- Wigan Office +44 (0)1942 244294
Endowment Funds
Permanent endowment: This means property (such as land, buildings, investments or cash) that trustees may not spend as if it were income. If a charity is permanently endowed, it can spend the income generated from the endowment and in certain circumstances can spend permanent endowment as if it were income.
Small unincorporated charities: The above rules on spending permanent endowment apply to unincorporated charities that either have an annual income of £1,000 or less, or where the market value of the endowment fund in question is £10,000 or less. The trustees can resolve to spend the permanent endowment without needing the Charity Commission’s consent. However, charities must first satisfy themselves that the purposes for which the endowment fund was created could be more effectively carried out by spending some or all of the capital. This does not apply to land held on trusts for specific uses.
Larger unincorporated charities: If a charity is unincorporated with an annual income in the last year of over £1,000 and the market value of the permanent endowment is over £10,000, slightly different rules will apply. It may spend permanent endowment, but to safeguard the interests of donors it must first obtain the Charity Commission’s consent. In deciding whether or not to allow a charity to spend the endowment, the Charity Commission must take into account any evidence of the donor’s wishes, as well as any change in the charity’s circumstances. The rules do not apply to land held on trusts for specific uses.
For more information about endowment funds, please contact our Charity Team.