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The Michael Cowan Foundation

London Charity No: 1137182 (Charity Commission)
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65
Integrity Assessment
Partial transparency
65/100 · methodology

About The Michael Cowan Foundation

To date, the charity's trustees have been researching suitable causes and projects. However, since the necessary funding is not yet available, the charity has not entered into any transactions during the year.

Founded
Headquarters
London
Foundation type
Trust
Size
large

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where
Cause tags
SDG alignment The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the global agenda for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity by 2030. We tag each charity to the goals its work advances.

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 8 similar science & technology in United Kingdom
Program spending This charity: 100%
Peer average: 94%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 65
Peer average: 86

Concerns

· None found
No red flags found
Screened for Charity Commission removal, Open investigations, Governance scandals, Related-party deals, Excessive exec comp.

Where every £1 goes

· FY2023 · Charity Commission (UK) (FY2023)
£1.00
Program£1.00
Fundraising£0.00
100% to programs beats the peer average (94%) and beats the Charity Navigator "highly efficient" threshold (75%).

GiveRadar Analysis

Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations

From what GiveRadar has verified so far, The Michael Cowan Foundation has a partial profile, cross-referenced across 3 independent sources including the Charity Commission.

  • By reported annual revenue, it is larger than 90% of the 828 science & technology charities in the United Kingdom with financial records on GiveRadar. See the filings
  • GiveRadar holds 5 years of financial filings for this organization, the most recent for fiscal year 2023. See the filings
  • Its integrity score of 65 is below most of the 1,005 science & technology charities in the United Kingdom GiveRadar tracks. GiveRadar bases this on limited verified information so far. Explore United Kingdom data
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records (5 filed years)
  • disclosed leadership
Not yet verified by GiveRadar
  • a website (present for 73% of comparable organizations)
  • a contact email (present for 88% of comparable organizations)
  • a donation page
  • third-party accreditation

Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.

Common questions

· Auto-generated from filings + methodology

The Michael Cowan Foundation is a registered science & technology nonprofit based in London, United Kingdom. It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. It was founded in 2010 and has been operating for 16 years. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 65/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports £2M in annual revenue. No red flags have been detected.

The Michael Cowan Foundation's registered charity number is 1137182. You can use it to look up the organization on the Charity Commission register.

The Michael Cowan Foundation has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 65/100. 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 65 ('Partial transparency') means some public data is on file but key signals are missing - worth a closer look before donating. The charity allocates 100% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for science & technology charities in United Kingdom is 86/100.

The Michael Cowan Foundation is located in London, United Kingdom. The organization was established in 2010 and has been active for 16 years.

Based on official tax filings, The Michael Cowan Foundation has £2M in annual revenue. It allocates 100% of expenses to programs and services. This is above the average of 94% for science & technology charities in United Kingdom. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

The Michael Cowan Foundation is classified as a Science & Technology organization, registered in United Kingdom. It operates as a Trust. By size, it is categorized as a large organization. It has £2M in annual revenue. The organization has 4 disclosed officers and directors.

No red flags have been detected for The Michael Cowan Foundation. 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, The Michael Cowan Foundation is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales and overseen by the Charity Commission. It reports that 100% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 94%). 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.

To date, the charity's trustees have been researching suitable causes and projects. However, since the necessary funding is not yet available, the charity has not entered into any transactions during the year. The Michael Cowan Foundation is classified as a science & technology organization registered in United Kingdom. The organization was founded in 2010.

Among science & technology charities registered in United Kingdom: It allocates 100% of expenses to programs, above the peer average of 94%. Its annual revenue of £2M is comparable to the peer average of £1M.

The Michael Cowan Foundation is a charitable trust, the oldest legal form for UK charities. Trusts are governed by a trust deed and overseen by trustees who manage the charity's assets for the benefit of its stated purposes. Trusts are not incorporated and do not have a separate legal personality.

You can verify The Michael Cowan Foundation 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. 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.

Contact The Michael Cowan Foundation directly for current donation methods. 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.

Donations to The Michael Cowan Foundation 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.

The Michael Cowan Foundation is based in London. 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.

The Michael Cowan Foundation was first registered in 2010, making it approximately 16 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.

Annual revenue
£1M-£10M
100% to programs
Source: Charity Commission (UK) (FY2023) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

5 years on file from Charity Commission (UK) (FY2023): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2023, FY2022, FY2021, FY2020, FY2019.
Financial details are free - with a GiveRadar account

See 5 years of revenue, expense breakdowns, and balance sheet.

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Taxes

Tax-deductibility for donors

UK donations qualify for Gift Aid. THE MICHAEL COWAN FOUNDATION is registered with the Charity Commission. Eligible UK taxpayers can boost their gift by 25% at no extra cost.

Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.

Leadership

From FY2023 filing

JA
James A•••••• J••• B••••••
Trustee

Officers & trustees (4)

Source: Public filings

See full names, roles, and stories

4 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.

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Latest news

From global news sources

10 articles found

From news sources and the organization. Shown for transparency; news never affects the integrity score.

Activity timeline

Filings and press mentions, merged

Michael Cowan - TVGuide.com
May 2026
www.tvguide.com
John B Peoples by Michael Cowan - Crime Fiction Lover
May 2026
crimefictionlover.com
Featured Excerpt: John B. Peoples by Michael Cowan - Criminal Element
Apr 2026
www.criminalelement.com
In Memoriam: Michael Cowan - UC Santa Cruz - News
Jun 2025
news.ucsc.edu
Michael Cowan Obituary - Santa Cruz, CA (1937-2025) - Santa Cruz Sentinel
Jun 2025
www.santacruzsentinel.com
Obituary for Michael G. Cowan - Palmer Funeral Homes
Apr 2025
www.palmerfuneralhomes.com
Form filed
£6.4M revenue
FY2023
Charity Commission (UK)
Michael Cowan obituary - The Times
Nov 2023
www.thetimes.com
Michael Cowan obituary - The Times
Nov 2023
www.thetimes.com
Form filed
£0.0M revenue
FY2022
Charity Commission (UK)
50/50: Congratulations to Michael Cowan - Glasgow Clan
Aug 2022
clanihc.com
Form filed
£0.0M revenue
FY2021
Charity Commission (UK)
Form filed
£0.3M revenue
FY2020
Charity Commission (UK)
Form filed
£0.4M revenue
FY2019
Charity Commission (UK)
From the Top: Michael Cowan - CRC's e-Commerce Director - Pinkbike
Feb 2017
www.pinkbike.com

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Cause areas in United Kingdom

How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.

Education 87,646
Health 28,382
Religion 22,146
Arts & Culture 21,802
Community Development 10,738
Environment 5,683
Social Services 4,899
Youth Development 4,637
Science & Technology this charity 1,005
See all cause areas in United Kingdom

Most common causes in United Kingdom

Causes charities work on most.

Education 54,780
Arts & Culture 17,729
Disability 17,106
Religion 16,671
Health 15,045
Poverty 14,062
Community Development 11,486
Cultural Heritage 8,526

Sources and verification

Registration and legal identity
Charity Commission for England and Wales - Register of Charities
Financial filings
Charity Commission annual returns - Fiscal year 2023 most recent on file.
Officers and trustees
Charity Commission for England and Wales - Register of Charities - 4 disclosed in the public registry.
News and media coverage
GDELT Project + Google News

Data freshness

Last updated
Jun 17, 2026
Registry checked
Jun 17, 2026
Profile completeness
85%

What we know and don't know

Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.

On record · 7
  • Financial data · FY2023 on record
  • Named leadership · 4 officers on file
  • Government registration · Registered with an official registry
  • Headquarters address · On file
  • Direct contact · Email or phone published
  • Tax-deductibility · Verified
  • Founding date · 2010
Not available · 4
  • Executive pay
    Top-officer pay not disclosed
  • Mission statement
    No self-published statement of purpose
  • Programs & activities
    No named programs listed by the charity
  • Official website
    No verified website on record

Methodology

GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.

Read full methodology

Are you the owner or a board member?

If you represent this organization and want to correct or update its data, you can claim this listing to edit details yourself, or email [email protected] with the correct information. We review every request and respond within 30 days.

Quick facts about The Michael Cowan Foundation

What is The Michael Cowan Foundation?
The Michael Cowan Foundation is a science & technology trust based in London, United Kingdom. To date, the charity's trustees have been researching suitable causes and projects. However, since the necessary funding is not yet available, the charity has not entered into any transactions during the year.
When was The Michael Cowan Foundation founded?
The Michael Cowan Foundation was founded in 2010.
Where is The Michael Cowan Foundation located?
Headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
What is The Michael Cowan Foundation's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2023 is approximately £1M-£10M. 100% of expenses go to program services.
Is The Michael Cowan Foundation trustworthy?
The Michael Cowan Foundation has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 65 out of 100 (Partial transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
Are donations to The Michael Cowan Foundation tax-deductible?
Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United Kingdom under local rules. US donors should check whether the charity has an equivalency-determination letter or a US-based fiscal sponsor before claiming a deduction.