Practical Action

Practical Action is a registered international nonprofit based in Rugby, United Kingdom. It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. It was founded in 1966 and has been operating for 60 years. Its registration number is 247257. According to GiveRadar's records, it holds registration with the UK Fundraising Regulator, which means it has committed to the Code of Fundraising Practice and accountable fundraising standards. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 86/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports £33M in annual revenue. 13 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected.

Practical Action's registered charity number is 247257. You can use it to look up the organization on the Charity Commission register.

Practical Action has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 86/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 86 ('Strong transparency') reflects well-documented governance, recent financials, named leadership, and working contact details. The charity allocates 86% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for international charities in United Kingdom is 86/100.

Practical Action is located in Rugby, United Kingdom. The organization was established in 1966 and has been active for 60 years.

Based on official tax filings, Practical Action has £33M in annual revenue. It allocates 86% of expenses to programs and services. This is in line with the average of 90% for international charities in United Kingdom. Its revenue is significantly above the peer average of £1M. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

Practical Action is classified as an International organization, registered in United Kingdom. It operates as a Charitable Company. By size, it is categorized as a large organization. It has £33M in annual revenue. The organization has 13 disclosed officers and directors.

No red flags have been detected for Practical Action. GiveRadar automatically screens charities for concerning patterns including high executive compensation, low program spending, and missing financial filings. Based on available official data, no issues have been identified.

According to GiveRadar's records, Practical Action holds registration with the UK Fundraising Regulator, which means it has committed to the Code of Fundraising Practice and accountable fundraising standards. It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. It reports that 86% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 90%). You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.

Practical Action is a global innovator, inspiring people to discover and adopt ingenious, practical ways to free themselves from poverty and disadvantage Practical Action is classified as an international organization registered in United Kingdom. The organization was founded in 1966.

Among international charities registered in United Kingdom: It allocates 86% of expenses to programs, in line with the peer average of 90%. Its annual revenue of £33M is well above the peer average of £1M.

Practical Action is a charitable company limited by guarantee, the most common incorporated form for UK charities. It is registered with both Companies House and the Charity Commission, and must file annual accounts with both regulators. Directors (who are also charity trustees) have limited liability. Its Charity Commission registration number is 247257.

You can verify Practical Action in several ways. First, search the Charity Commission Register at https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/ - every charity registered in England and Wales appears here with its registration number, trustees, governing document, and filed accounts. Because this is a charitable company, you can also check its filings on Companies House (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/). Second, check whether the charity's annual return and accounts are up to date - the Commission flags charities with overdue filings. Third, look for the Fundraising Regulator badge on the charity's website, which signals voluntary compliance with the Code of Fundraising Practice.

You can donate to Practical Action directly through its donation page (https://practicalaction.org/donate/). UK charities typically accept online card payments, direct debit, and bank transfer. Many also use platforms such as JustGiving or Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). If you are a UK taxpayer, make sure to tick the Gift Aid box: it lets the charity reclaim 25p from HMRC for every pound you give at no extra cost to you. Higher-rate taxpayers can claim back the difference between basic-rate and their marginal rate through Self Assessment. Payroll Giving (Give As You Earn) lets you donate pre-tax through your employer.

Yes, Practical Action is registered with the Fundraising Regulator (FR), the independent regulator of charitable fundraising in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Registration means the charity has committed to following the Code of Fundraising Practice and the Fundraising Promise, which set standards for honest, respectful, and transparent fundraising. Donors can complain to the FR if they believe a charity has breached the Code.

Donations to Practical Action are eligible for Gift Aid if you are a UK income-tax or capital-gains-tax payer. Gift Aid adds 25% to your donation at no cost to you (the charity reclaims basic-rate tax from HMRC). Higher-rate and additional-rate taxpayers can also claim back the difference through Self Assessment or by adjusting their PAYE tax code. Gifts of shares, property, or land to charity are free of Capital Gains Tax and can be deducted from your income for Income Tax purposes. Legacy gifts (in your will) reduce the value of your estate for Inheritance Tax and can lower the IHT rate from 40% to 36% if you leave at least 10% to charity.

Practical Action is based in Rugby. The Charity Commission for England and Wales (CCEW) is the primary regulator. Scotland has its own regulator (OSCR), and Northern Ireland has the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI). A charity registered with the CCEW may operate across the whole of the UK or internationally.

Practical Action was first registered in 1966, making it approximately 60 years old. UK charities must file an annual return with the Charity Commission to remain on the register. A long registration history generally indicates sustained operations and continuous regulatory compliance.