Our 2024/25 annual report and accounts documents some of the progress we’ve made against the objectives we set last year in our five focus areas: Discover, Translate, Engage, Partner and Sustain.
Read our 2024/25 annual report and accountsThis includes money we committed to in previous years but paid out this year, as well as money paid out to new projects we committed to this year. Our total research activity excludes £7m spent on research at our Scotland Institute, which is funded by external partners.
Here’s a breakdown of our research spend:
For a breakdown by cancer type, see page 11 of our annual report and accounts. In 2024/25, we spent nearly £26m on research specific to cancers that affect 0 to 24-year-olds, making us the biggest charitable funder of research into children’s and young people’s cancers in the UK.
This includes research infrastructure and studies looking at cancer survivorship.
Understanding the fundamental biology of cancer.
This includes peer review, grant management, IT and other support costs.
Efforts to advance, develop and commercialise cancer research.
This is a share of royalties from sales of innovations developed from our research, which we pass on to others involved in it.
A biorepository of over 5,000 tools for the global research community, such as antibodies and cell lines.
We committed £419m to cancer research, infrastructure and providing grants for investigator-led programmes, projects and training fellowships. Some of the £419m we committed to cancer research this year will be paid out to projects in future years. We spent £403m on cancer research this year, which includes money we committed in previous years.
We committed £34m to cancer information and influencing activity to shape and inform government policy changes and provide people with trusted, accurate information about cancer.
We committed £132m to trading, opening five new superstores, expanding our online marketplaces and covering the increase in the National Living Wage.
We committed £130m to generating funds, which includes investment in marketing, face-to-face fundraising and our digital and data transformation programme.
We raised £530m from regular gifts, philanthropic gifts, gifts in Wills, corporate partnerships, events, giving platforms and social media challenges.
We received £11m in investments and other income.
We raised £59m through licensing the intellectual property from our discoveries.
We raised £135m through our network of shops, superstores and online marketplaces, which helped offset a decline in same-store, like-for-like sales of donated items.
For every £1 donated, 78p was available to beat cancer.
This has increased from 76p last year thanks to significant legacy and philanthropic gifts. We don’t include the net income from our trading activities in this calculation, so the measure is comparable to other charities that don't have shops.
You can read more on page 13 of our annual report and accounts.
We know it’s important for you to know how we spend your donations. We’re transparent in all areas of our work.
Our chief executive, Michelle Mitchell OBE, was paid £288,200 total remuneration between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.
As the world’s leading cancer charity, we need to attract and retain high-performing people. The salaries we pay reflect individual responsibilities and performance, while ensuring the best use of your donations. We employ people to help us achieve our vision of a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.
For more information about staff pay, see pages 45 and 85–87 of our annual report and accounts.
Read our analysis of grant-funded research by host institution and list of grant-making committee members who received grants this year.
Read our 2023/24 annual report and accounts(PDF, 13.6 MB)
Read our 2022/23 annual report and accounts(PDF, 8.23 MB)
Read our 2021/22 annual report and accounts(PDF, 10.5 MB)
Read our 2020/21 annual report and accounts(PDF, 6.24 MB)
Read our 2019/20 annual report and accounts(PDF, 6.07 MB)
Your support has powered another year of life-saving research to beat cancer. Learn more about the progress you’ve made possible in 2024/25.
Whether you fundraise, volunteer or pledge a gift in your Will, join our collective effort to beat cancer.
People affected by cancer are at the heart of what we do. Join our patient involvement network and help guide our decisions.
