Liberty funding
How we fund our work
We receive funding in a range of different ways, including from trusts and foundations, membership fees, individual donations, legal fees and legacies. We also welcome in-kind support from companies who donate their time and expertise.
With thanks to Trusts and Foundations giving £5,000 or more to Liberty or the Civil Liberties Trust:
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- Luminate
- Oak Foundation
- Open Society Foundations
- A B Charitable Trust
- Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
- The Legal Education Foundation
- People’s Postcode Lottery
- The Sigrid Rausing Trust
- Unbound Philanthropy
- The David and Elaine Potter Foundation
- Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Companies donating time and expertise:
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- Vocalegal
Financial statements
Read the Executive Committee’s Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31 December 2022
Read the Executive Committee’s Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31 December 2021
Does Liberty receive funding from the Government?
No. Liberty is an independent membership organisation, with no political affiliation and we do not accept funding from the Government.
Where does Liberty’s funding come from?
We receive funding in a range of different ways, including from trusts and foundations, membership fees, individual donations, legal fees and legacies.
Our total income for the year 2021 was £3,970,000.
While our precise income sources vary from year to year, they generally break down as follows:
- 68% from charitable trusts and foundations. You can see a list of our current trust and foundation funders at the top of this page.
- 20% from our membership base of more than 15,000 people, paying an average of £5 per month.
- 5% from individuals donating £10,000 or more. We do not publish the names of our major donors without their express permission.
- 2% comes from legal fees and other income.
- 5% from smaller donations through appeals, such as the ‘Big Give’ Christmas Challenge.
We also receive income from gifts in wills (also known as ‘legacies’), however this amount can range vastly from year to year. In 2022 we received £100,000 from legacies.
Can anyone donate to Liberty?
No. We conduct due diligence – using sources including Companies House and Charity Commission records, media and social media references, and any individual or company website associated with the donor and/or donation – for any donations from individuals where the donation is worth at least £10,000 (as a one-off donation or part of a multi-year commitment or if donations cumulatively amount to the same amount).
A donation will be refused where it is clear that the views and/or activities of the donor are directly inimical to the objectives of Liberty, the agreed policies of Liberty, or to the beneficiaries of Liberty.