**Charity registration number 1162762** 

**Company registration number 09021881 (England and Wales)** 

## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

**ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** 



## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **CONTENTS** 

||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|1 - 7|
|Independent examiner's report|8|
|Statement of financial activities|9|
|Balance sheet|10|
|Notes to the financial statements|11 - 19|





## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023. 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Foundation's Memorandum and Articles, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). 

## **Objectives and activities** 

The Foundation's objects are to: 

## **a. Policies and objectives** 

The objects of the Foundation are to advance education and promote research for the public benefit in particular but without limitation by accelerating, promoting, and facilitating research data sharing and exchange and (save for purposes incidental and ancillary to those objects) no other purposes. 

## **b. Activities undertaken to achieve objectives** 

This is done through facilitating the operations of the Research Data Alliance (RDA), a global volunteer organisation under the auspices of the Foundation. The mission of the RDA is to "build the social and technical bridges that enable the open sharing and re-use of data." To conduct this work, the RDA reviews, endorses, and convenes short-term Working Groups and longer-term Interest Groups, and since December 2020, Communities of Practice (CoP) a forum and knowledge exchange platform, where both specific and generic data challenges can be discussed and resolved by experts from the community itself as proposed by members of the global research community. 

The Recommendations and Supporting Outputs (https://www.rd-alliance.org/recommendations-and-outputscatalogue/) delivered by these groups are the primary deliverables of the RDA and are publicly and openly available. The Trustees who act as the Council for RDA formally endorse these recommendations based on the advice of the community elected Technical Advisory Board (TAB) Regional Advisory Board (RAB) and Organisational Advisory Board (OAB) and an assessment of whether the Recommendation is actively being used by organisations. 

RDA conducts two plenary meetings each year at different locations around the world and on-line, since 2020, for the Communities of Practice, Working and Interest Groups to convene, conduct their work and present their results. new group ideas and proposals are facilitated at these meetings through Birds of a Feather sessions. 

The Trustees meet together at least four times per year in virtual meetings, and occasionally in a face-to-face context, to ensure the objectives of the Foundation are being met in a productive and responsible manner. Minutes from the Trustee meetings are publicly available on the RDA's website (rd-alliance.org) under the RDA Council page (https://www.rd-alliance.org/council/). 

In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charities Commission relating to public benefit and in particular to its supplementary public benefit guidance. 

The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Foundation should undertake. 

The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Foundation should undertake. 

- 1 - 



## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

## **Achievements and performance** 

## **a. Review of activities** 

As of 31 Dec 2023, RDA had 14.053 individual volunteer members, 69 dues paying Organisational Members, and 12 Organisational Affiliate members. They work collectively in 35 active Working Groups, 53 active Interest Groups and 1 active Community of Practice. 

During the period of 1 January 2023 through 31 December 2023, members created 7 new and currently endorsed Working Groups, and 4 Interest Groups. 

New, currently endorsed Working Groups: 

1. Complex Citations WG 

2. Scientific Knowledge Graphs – Interoperability Framework (SKG-IF) WG 

3. RDA/WDS TRUST Principles and Adoption WG 

4. RDA/CODATA Data Systems, Tools, and Services for Crisis Situations WG 

5. RDA-OfR Mapping the digital research data infrastructure landscape WG 

6. RDA OfR Creating a Multi-omics Metadata Schema Standard Reporting Matrix WG 

7. RDA & ReSA Policies in Research Organisations for Research Software (PRO4RS) WG 

New, currently endorsed Interest Groups: 

1. Working with PIDs in Tools IG 

2. Evaluation of Research IG 

3. Reproducibility IG 

4. National PID Strategies IG 

## **b. Review of activities (continued)** 

During that same period, existing groups produced 4 further formal Recommendations and 2 supporting outputs (https://www.rd-alliance.org/recommendations-and-outputs-catalogue/) 

Formal Recommendations: 

1. Health Research Performing Organisations (HRPOs) FAIR Guidelines 

2. Metadata Standards Directory WG Recommendations 

3. Metadata Standards Catalog WG Recommendations 

4. RDA National PID Strategies Guide and Checklist 

The previous formal recommendations are listed below: 

5. Metadata Schema for the Persistent Identification of Instruments 

6. Data Usage Metrics WG Recommendations 

   7. InteroperAble Descriptions of Observable Property Terminologies (I-ADOPT) WG Outputs and Recommendations 

8. FAIR Principles for Research Software 

9. 10 Things for Curating Reproducible and FAIR Research 

10. Guidelines for Publishing Structured Metadata on the Web 

11. Recommendations and Capacity Development Resource Kit 

12. Basic Vocabulary of Foundational Terminology 

13. Data Description Registry Interoperability Model 

14. Data Type Model and Registry 

15. Machine Actionable Policy Templates 

16. Metadata standards directory WG 

- 2 - 



## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

## **b. Review of activities (continued)** 

17. PID Information Types (PIT) WG Recommendations 18. CODATA/RDA Summer Schools in Data Science and Cloud Computing in the Developing World 19. RDA/TDWG Attribution Metadata Working Group: Final Recommendations 20. A curriculum for Foundational Research Data Science Skills for Early Career Researchers 21. RDA/WDS Publishing Data Services WG Recommendations: The Scholix initiative 22. RDA/WDS Publishing Data Workflows 23. Recommendation on PID Kernel Information 24. Repository Audit and Certification Catalogues 25. Research Data Collections WG Final Recommendations 26. Wheat Data Interoperability Guidelines, Ontologies and Use Cases 27. Scalable Dynamic-data Citation Methodology 28. The FAIRsharing Registry and Recommendations: Interlinking Standards, databases, and data policies. 

29. RDA DMP Common Standard for Machine-actionable Data Management Plans 

30. 39 Hints to Facilitate the Use of Semantics for Data on Agriculture and Nutrition 

31. A Curriculum for Foundational Research Data Science Skills for Early Career Researchers 

32. RDA COVID-19 Recommendations and Guidelines on Data Sharing 

33. FAIR Data Maturity Model: specification and guidelines 

34. Scholix Metadata Schema for Scholarly Communication Links 

## Formal supporting outputs: 

1. GORC IG Typology and Definitions 2. The Global Open Research Commons International Model Report 

The previous formal supporting outputs of RDA are: 

3. A Collection of Crosswalks from Fifteen Research Data Schemas to Schema.org 

4. Recommendations for a minimal metadata set to aid harmonised discovery of learning resources 

5. Core Characteristics of Learning Resource Collectors 

6. 23 Things Physical Samples 

7. Models of Data Stewardship Survey Initial Report 

8. Models of Data Stewardship Survey Output Data 

9. Data Stewardship Landscape Initial Report 10. Data Stewardship Landscape Report Resource Matrix 11. 23 Things: Libraries For Research Data 12. A survey of current practices in data search services 

13. Addressing the Gaps: Recommendations for Supporting the Long Tail of Research Data 

14. Data Discovery Paradigms: User Requirements and Recommendations for Data Repositories 

15. Eleven Quick Tips for Finding Research Data 

16. Federated Identity Management for Research Collaborations 

17. Income Streams for Data Repositories 

18. Matrix of use cases and functional requirements for research data repository platforms 

19. Persistent identifiers: Consolidated assertions 

20. Research Data Repository Interoperability Primer 

21. Summary of Virtual Layer Recommendations 

22. WDS/RDA Assessment of Data Fitness for Use 23. Engaging Researchers with Data Management: The Cookbook 24. Tromsø Recommendations for Citation of Research Data in Linguistics 

25. Principles and Best Practices in Data Versioning for all Data Sets Big and Small 

26. Compilation of Data Versioning Use Cases from the 

27. Top 10 FAIR Data & Software Things 

28. RDA COVID-19 WG Zotero Library 

29. Persistent Identification of Instruments 30. Sharing COVID-19 Epidemiology Data 

- 3 - 



## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

Formal supporting outputs (continued) 

31. Developing a Research Data Policy Framework for all Journals and Publishers 

32. Use Cases and Identifier Schemes for Persistent Source Code Information 

33. Challenges of Curating for Reproducible and FAIR Research Output 

34. Member survey on bridging the gap between funders and communities. 

35. Results of an analysis of existing FAIR Assessment Tools 

36. RDA & CODATA Legal Interoperability of Research Data 

## **Financial review** 

Total income during the period amounted to £665,211 (2022 : £354,162) and total direct charitable expenditure amounted to £598,865 ( 2022 : £323,855) including expenditure on support and governance costs of £7,335 (2022 : £7,665), resulting in a net surplus of £66,346 (2022 : net surplus of £30,307). At year end, amounts held in unrestricted reserves were £321,003 (2022 : £285,947) and restricted funds were £31,290 (2022 : £nil). 

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for a period not less than 12 months. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. 

## **Reserves Policy** 

The Trustees reserve policy is to hold reserve of one year's anticipate expenditure based on the last Annual Budget. 

Currently funds are below this level and the Trustees have taken steps to improve this position. 

## **Supplier payment policy** 

The company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to: 

- settle the terms of payment with suppliers when agreeing the terms of each transaction; 

- ensure that suppliers are made aware of the terms of payment by inclusion of the relevant terms in contracts; and 

- pay in accordance with the company's contractual and other legal obligations. 

Trade creditors of the company at the year end were £15,411 (December 2022: £nil). 

## **Structure, governance and management** 

## **a. Constitution** 

The Foundation is a charitable company limited by guarantee . The company was incorporated under a Memorandum of Association on 1 May 2014 and is a registered charity, charity number 1162762. It received charitable status on 21 July 2015. 

- 4 - 



## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were: 

Dr S Collins Ms I G Dillo Dr J Haga Ms E Herczog Prof. C M B Mederios Ms J E Benn Dr R J Hanisch Ms H J Hanahoe Dr J G Maphanyane Ms E Herczog Mr Lee Wilson Ms Amy Nurnberger Mr Wolfram Horstmann Mr Juan Bicarregui Ms E Herczog Ms I Dillo J Bicarregui 

## **b. Methods of appointment or election of Trustees** 

The Foundation is governed in accordance with its Articles of Association as a Company limited by guarantee and not having share capital (company number 9021881). The Foundation is governed by its trustees who are also directors of the company and act as the Council for RDA. 

Council currently consists of nine members who serve rotating three-year terms, so that three members are appointed each year. Each year, a Nomination Committee appointed by Council determines a slate of three candidates. The slate is presented to the RDA Membership and the recommendation of the Nomination Committee is either accepted or rejected by simple majority. 

The RDA Governance Document and RDA Organisational and Process Plan lay out the processes for determining the Nominations committee and Council election and appointment. The documents are available on RDA's website (rd-alliance.org). 

None of the Trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the Trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up. 

- 5 - 



## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

**Company Registered Number** 09021881 

**Charity Registered Number** 1162762 

## **Registered Office** 

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell Oxford Didcot Oxfordshire OX11 0QX 

## **Company Secretary** 

H J Hanahoe 

## **Independent Examiner** 

Fiona Haro CA Thomson Cooper Accountants 3 Castle Court Carnegie Campus Dunfermline KY11 8PB 

- 6 - 



## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

## **Statement of Trustees' responsibilities** 

The Trustees, who are also the directors of Research Data Alliance Foundation for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Foundation and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year. 

In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to: 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; 

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;  and 

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Foundation will continue in operation. 

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Foundation and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Foundation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees. 

J Bicarregui **Trustee** 

9 July 2024 

- 7 - 



## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT** 

## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Research Data Alliance Foundation (the Foundation) for the year ended 31 December 2023. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the Trustees of the Foundation (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act). 

Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the Foundation are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination,  I report in respect of my examination of the Foundation’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. 

## **Independent examiner's statement** 

Since the Foundation’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAS, which is one of the listed bodies. 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 

- 1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the Foundation as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 

- 2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or 

- 3 the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or 

- 4 the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). 

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached. 

Fiona Haro CA Thomson Cooper Accountants 3 Castle Court Carnegie Campus Dunfermline Fife KY11 8PB 

Dated: 9 July 2024 

- 8 - 



## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

|**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted**<br>**funds**<br>**funds**<br>**2023**<br>**2023**<br>**Notes**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**Income from:**<br>Charitable activities<br>**2**<br>543,805<br>121,406<br>**Expenditure on:**<br>Charitable activities<br>**3**<br>502,228<br>96,637<br>**Net incoming resources before transfers**<br>41,577<br>24,769<br>Gross transfers between funds<br>(6,521)<br>6,521<br>**Net income for the year/**<br>**Net movement in funds**<br>35,056<br>31,290<br>Fund balances at 1 January 2023<br>285,947<br>-<br>**Fund balances at 31 December 2023**<br>321,003<br>31,290|**Total Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**2023**<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>665,211<br>354,162<br>598,865<br>323,855<br>66,346<br>30,307<br>-<br>-<br>66,346<br>30,307<br>285,947<br>255,640<br>352,293<br>285,947|**Total Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**2023**<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>665,211<br>354,162<br>598,865<br>323,855<br>66,346<br>30,307<br>-<br>-<br>66,346<br>30,307<br>285,947<br>255,640<br>352,293<br>285,947|
|---|---|---|
|||323,855|
|||30,307<br>-|
|||30,307<br>255,640|
|||285,947|



The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. 

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. 

The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006. 

- 9 - 



## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **BALANCE SHEET** 

## _**AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

|**Notes**<br>**Fixed assets**<br>Tangible assets<br>**8**<br>**Current assets**<br>Debtors<br>**9**<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**Creditors: amounts falling due within**<br>**one year**<br>**10**<br>Net current assets<br>**Total assets less current liabilities**<br>**Income funds**<br>Restricted funds<br>**12**<br>Unrestricted funds|**2023**<br>**£**<br>56,121<br>357,703<br>413,824<br>(64,446)|**£**<br>2,915<br>349,378<br>352,293<br>31,290<br>321,003<br>352,293|**2022**<br>**£**<br>64,424<br>270,095<br>334,519<br>(51,088)|**£**<br>2,516<br>283,431|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||285,947|
|||||-<br>285,947|
|||||285,947|



The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the period ended 31 December 2023. 

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements. 

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476. 

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. 

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 9 July 2024 

J Bicarregui **Trustee** 

## **Company registration number 09021881** 

- 10 - 



## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

## **1 Accounting policies** 

## **Charity information** 

Research Data Alliance Foundation is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX. . 

## **1.1 Accounting convention** 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Foundation's Memorandum and Articles, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). The Foundation is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102. 

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Foundation. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £. 

Research Data Alliance meets the definition of public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy. 

There were no significant estimates or judgements made by management in preparing these financial statements. 

## **1.2 Going concern** 

At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Foundation has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for a period of 12 months from the date of signing the accounts. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. 

## **1.3 Charitable funds** 

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives. 

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements. 

Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the Foundation. 

## **1.4 Income** 

Income is recognised when the Foundation is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received. 

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the Foundation has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation. 

- 11 - 



## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

## **1 Accounting policies** 

## **(Continued)** 

Grant income is recognised by the Foundation when there has been notification of the amount and the settlement date. In the event that a grant is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the Foundation is entitled to those funds, the income is deferred. If a grant is subject to strict terms as to the use of those funds , the grant is treated as a restricted fund and accounted for accordingly. Where the receipt of grant income is contingent on certain aspects, such that the Foundation does not have full entitlement and is not able to accurately establish measurement of the income, it is disclosed as a contingent asset in the accounts. 

Membership income is recognised in the period to which it relates. Membership income owing to the Foundation at the year end is included in debtors. Different levels of membership attract different fees and carry different rights for the members. 

## **1.5 Expenditure** 

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. 

Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. 

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. 

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses including support costs and governance costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure headings. 

Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the Foundation and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements. 

## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets** 

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses. 

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases: 

Fixtures and fittings 

25% Straight Line 

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities. 

## **1.7 Impairment of fixed assets** 

At each reporting end date, the Foundation reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). 

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## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

## **1 Accounting policies** 

**(Continued)** 

## **1.8 Cash and cash equivalents** 

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities. 

## **1.9 Financial instruments** 

The Foundation has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments. 

Financial instruments are recognised in the Foundation's balance sheet when the Foundation becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. 

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. 

## _**Basic financial assets**_ 

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised. 

## _**Basic financial liabilities**_ 

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised. 

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method. 

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. 

## _**Derecognition of financial liabilities**_ 

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the Foundation’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled. 

## **1.10 Employee benefits** 

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received. 

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the Foundation is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits. 

## **1.11 Retirement benefits** 

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due. 

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## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

## **1 Accounting policies** 

## **(Continued)** 

## **1.12 Foreign exchange** 

Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation in the period are included in profit or loss. 

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at rates of exchange ruling at the reporting date. 

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rate ruling on the date of the transaction. 

Exchange gains and losses are recognised in the statement of financial activities, 

## **2 Charitable activities** 

|Membership income<br>Regional Engagement<br>Plenary Income<br>Other income<br>Analysis by fund<br>Unrestricted funds<br>Restricted funds|**2023**<br>**£**<br>235,478<br>137,528<br>23,062<br>269,143<br>665,211<br>543,805<br>121,406<br>665,211|**2022**<br>**£**<br>201,569<br>128,304<br>23,473<br>816|
|---|---|---|
|||354,162|
|||354,162<br>-|
|||354,162|



- 14 - 



## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

## **3 Charitable activities** 

|Staff costs<br>Depreciation and impairment<br>Contract costs<br>Travel costs<br>Professional fees<br>Irrecoverable VAT<br>Foreign exchange differences<br>Bank charges<br>Sundry costs<br>Website costs<br>Bad Debts<br>Share of support costs (see note 4)<br>Share of governance costs (see note 4)<br>**4**<br>**Support costs**<br>**Basis of**<br>**allocation**<br>**Support**<br>**costs**<br>**Governance**<br>**costs**<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>Bookkeeping<br>Direct<br>6,435<br>-<br>6,435<br>Independent<br>examination<br>fees<br>Direct<br>-<br>900<br>900<br>6,435<br>900<br>7,335<br>**5**<br>**Net movement in funds**<br>Net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting)<br>Fees payable to the company's accountant for the examination of the<br>company's financial statements<br>Depreciation of owned tangible fixed assets|**2023**<br>**£**<br>181,603<br>949<br>167,820<br>85,047<br>13,500<br>13,334<br>11,476<br>551<br>12,742<br>104,404<br>104<br>591,530<br>6,435<br>900<br>598,865<br>Support<br>costs<br>Governance<br>costs<br>£<br>£<br>6,875<br>-<br>-<br>790<br>6,875<br>790<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>900<br>949|**2022**<br>**£**<br>101,371<br>656<br>134,074<br>29,354<br>5,134<br>19,629<br>(28,669)<br>724<br>18,880<br>35,037<br>-<br>316,190<br>6,875<br>790<br>323,855<br>2022<br>£<br>6,875<br>790<br>7,665<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>790<br>656|
|---|---|---|



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## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

## **6 Trustees** 

None of the Trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the Foundation during the year. 

The charity consider its key management personnel to be the Trustees and Company. All of the Trustees give their time and expertise without any form of remuneration or other benefit in kind (2022 - £nil). The Company Secretary's costs are recharged from a third party and amounted to £113,859 for the period (2022 - £84,951). 

One Trustee received reimbursement of expenses amounting to £33,437 in the current period (2022 - one trustee £13,877). 

## **7 Employees** 

The average monthly number of employees during the year was: 

|Admin staff<br>**Employment costs**<br>Wages and salaries<br>Social security costs<br>Other pension costs|**2023**<br>**Number**<br>3<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>163,957<br>14,434<br>3,212<br>181,603|**2022**<br>**Number**<br>2|
|---|---|---|
|||**2022**<br>**£**<br>88,499<br>11,001<br>1,871|
|||101,371|



There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000. 

## **8 Tangible fixed assets** 

|**Tangible fixed assets**||
|---|---|
||**Fixtures and fittings**|
||**£**|
|**Cost**||
|At 1 January 2023|6,937|
|At 31 December 2023|6,937|
|**Depreciation and impairment**||
|At 1 January 2023|3,073|
|Depreciation charged in the year|949|
|At 31 December 2023|4,022|
|**Carrying amount**||
|At 31 December 2023|2,915|
|At 31 December 2022|2,516|



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## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

|**9**<br>**Debtors**<br>**Amounts falling due within one year:**<br>Trade debtors<br>Other debtors<br>Prepayments and accrued income|**2023**<br>**£**<br>19,637<br>-<br>36,484<br>56,121|**2022**<br>**£**<br>46,941<br>117<br>17,366|
|---|---|---|
|||64,424|



## **10 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year** 

|**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2023**|**2022**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Other taxation and social security|2,003|-|
|Other creditors|15,411|-|
|Accruals and deferred income|47,032|51,088|
||64,446|51,088|
|**Deferred income**|||
||**2023**|**2022**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Deferred income at 1 January 2023|49,653|63,486|
|Membership income deferred during the period|45,597|49,653|
|Membership and grant income released during|||
|the period|(49,653)|(63,486)|
|Deferred income at 31 December 2023|45,597|49,653|



## **11 Deferred income** 

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## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

## **12 Restricted funds** 

|**r**<br>Restricted - P20<br>Restricted - RDA Tiger Fund|**Movement in funds**<br>**Incoming**<br>**esources**<br>**Resources**<br>**expended**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>52,332<br>(21,042)<br>69,074<br>(75,595)<br>121,406<br>(96,637)|**Transfers**<br>**Balance at**<br>**31 December**<br>**2023**<br>£<br>**£**<br>-<br>31,290<br>6,521<br>-<br>-<br>6,521<br>31,290|**Transfers**<br>**Balance at**<br>**31 December**<br>**2023**<br>£<br>**£**<br>-<br>31,290<br>6,521<br>-<br>-<br>6,521<br>31,290|
|---|---|---|---|
||||31,290|



**RDA Tiger Project** For website development 

**RDA P20** For P20 Congress 

## **13 Unrestricted funds** 

These are unrestricted general funds which are made up as follows: 

|**Balance at**<br>**1 January 2023**<br>**r**<br>**£**<br>General Fund<br>285,947<br>**Balance at**<br>**1 January 2022**<br>**r**<br>**£**<br>General Fund<br>255,640|**Movement in funds**<br>**Incoming**<br>**esources**<br>**Resources**<br>**expended**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>543,805<br>(502,228)<br>**Movement in funds**<br>**Incoming**<br>**esources**<br>**Resources**<br>**expended**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>354,162<br>(323,855)|**Transfers**<br>**Balance at**<br>**31 December**<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>(6,521)<br>321,003<br>**Transfers**<br>**Balance at**<br>**31 December**<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>-<br>285,947|
|---|---|---|



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## **RESEARCH DATA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION** 

## **NOTES TO THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**_ 

|**14**<br>**Analysis of net assets between funds**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**Restricted**<br>**funds**<br>**2023**<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>Fund balances at 31 December 2023 are<br>represented by:<br>Tangible assets<br>2,915<br>-<br>Current assets/(liabilities)<br>318,088<br>31,290<br>321,003<br>31,290|**Total**<br>Unrestricted<br>funds<br>**2023**<br>2022<br>**£**<br>£<br>2,915<br>2,516<br>349,378<br>283,431<br>352,293<br>285,947|
|---|---|



## **15 Related party transactions** 

There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2022 - none). 

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