As we look towards Christ's Hospital’s 500th anniversary with today’s economic headwinds swirling, it’s an apt time to reflect upon the resources that have sustained the school and its mission throughout its history - and will continue to do so in the future.

Without question, the endowment is the critical component of Christ's Hospital’s enduring ability to provide transformative educational opportunities. Over 67,000 young people have benefited so far, with an extraordinary ripple effect for their families and communities as well as the countless individuals around the world that Old Blues have impacted through their own charitable endeavours.

The Christ's Hospital Endowment Today
Thanks to an unrivalled tradition of generosity over centuries, the Christ's Hospital endowment stood at £419 million at the end of the 2023/24 financial year. The endowment is sustained by a portfolio of investments, including property, equities and other financial assets, which are managed to maintain a balance between spending and preserving value to ensure stability and growth. While this may seem like a substantial amount, it needs careful management to ensure its longevity and cannot be accessed like a bank account, as its preservation is essential to continuing Christ's Hospital’s mission.

To preserve the endowment for future generations, the amount available to spend has set rules. The allowable rate of annual withdrawal is set at 3.75% of its average net value over a three year-period. In 2023/24 the amount available from the endowment was £15.3m, which covered 49% of annual operating costs – this is a significantly lower share than for much of Christ's Hospital’s history and highlights both the impact of today’s financial environment and the need to grow the endowment value to safeguard Christ's Hospital’s future.

The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Old Blues and other supporters wishing to help sustain Christ's Hospital’s lifechanging mission through contributing to the endowment can do so in the knowledge that their gift will benefit young people for years to come. Recent endowment gifts, for example, have established an in-perpetuity Governorship and the Ward Blakely Director of Expeditionary Education post at the school.

Donations for today’s needs remain essential, especially with the endowment covering less than 50% of Christ's Hospital’s annual costs. Whether through a monthly gift, a one-off donation or the gift of an asset that relieves the donor of Capital Gains Tax, there are many ways to support CH’s transformative work. Legacies remain particularly central to Christ's Hospital and enable supporters to make a significant contribution to young people’s lives at no cost to them during their lifetime.

For further information on endowment gifts, leaving a legacy or other ways of supporting Christ's Hospital, please contact the Development team at [email protected] or 01403 246570.