THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION
Activities
As described by the charity on the register
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.
Latest income
£287m
Expenditure
£258m
Financial year end
2025-12-31
Income & spending history
As reported to the Charity Commission, by financial year end
| Year end | Income | Expenditure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12-31 | £220m | £200m | |
| 2022-12-31 | £232m | £233m | |
| 2023-12-31 | £250m | £243m | |
| 2024-12-31 | £251m | £251m | |
| 2025-12-31 | £287m | £258m |
Latest detailed return
Year end 2025-12-31 · consolidated (group) figures
Income mix
| Donations & legacies | £256m |
| Charitable activities | £5.9m |
| Trading | £17.5m |
| Investment income | £6.9m |
| Total income | £287m |
Spending
| Charitable spend | £205m |
| Raising funds | £52.8m |
| Grants to institutions | £699k |
| Governance | £1.7m |
| Total expenditure | £258m |
Balance sheet
| Reserves | £150m |
| Total funds | £868m |
| — restricted | £110m |
| — unrestricted | £673m |
| — endowment | £84.8m |
| Total assets | £868m |
| Cash | £2.3m |
People
| Employees | 2,781 |
Classification
The charity's own register classification
What it does
- General Charitable Purposes
- Education/training
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
Who it helps
- The General Public/mankind
How it works
- Makes Grants To Individuals
- Makes Grants To Organisations
- Provides Human Resources
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Services
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Sponsors Or Undertakes Research
Source: Charity Commission for England and Wales register, 2026-10-03. Detailed figures as filed in the charity's annual return. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.