IAH Annual Report 2024

Finance

Although IAH has income and expenditure in sterling, euro and dollars, owing to the Association being based in the UK it is required to prepare its formal reports and accounts in sterling. We have summarised our financial information here in all three currencies, for better understanding.

IAH’s trading subsidiary, World-Wide Groundwater Ltd, remained dormant, but continued to hold some funds on behalf of the Association, which had been deposited following closure by HSBC of IAH’s bank account in 2022. IAH’s new accounts with Virgin Money and Wise are fully operational.

Although the number of members has risen significantly following the Covid pandemic, subscription income has not matched this increase. A review of income has shown various factors may be relevant, such as stagnation or fall in membership seen at times in high income countries, more members taking the cheaper option of online access to our journal, and an increase in the number of student members, who pay reduced or no fees.

Despite this, the overall finances continue to be robust. Reserves increased during the pandemic when expenditure on travel and accommodation was minimal. Furthermore, donations from congresses and income from royalties have added to this. Spending on educational initiatives and support for members in lower income countries and early career members is gradually increasing. Unavoidably the general running costs for the Association also increase, more or less in line with inflation in the UK. But with nearly £252K carried forward at the end of the previous financial year there remains scope for more support for our charitable objectives and member benefits.

IAH’s Council, and members at the annual general meeting, agreed to not to increase membership fees in 2025, acknowledging stable finances and the need to monitor changes in member retention.

Trading activities

These are carried out through the Association’s subsidiary company World-Wide Groundwater Ltd. There was no trading activity during 2024. A bank account is, however, maintained at a small charge in the event of further requirements arising for its use. This has been used to safeguard some of IAH’s funds while new banking arrangements were bedded in and £49K was still held on behalf of IAH at the end of 2024.

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HYDROGEOLOGISTS

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31 December 2024

Incoming Resources				£	£	EUR(€)	USD($)

Membership fees					219223	265040.607	274467.196
Contract and subvention income					48467	58596.603	60680.684
Investment income					0	0	0
Donations					7391	8935.719	9253.532
Royalties					22632	27362.088	28335.264
Other income					21537	26038.233	26964.324
Total resources received					319250	385973.25	399701


Resources Expended
Member services	Salaries			33014
	Printing and publications			103280
	Hydrogeology Journal Editorial Office			0
	Refunds to National Chapters and other grants			33415
	Website development			12260
	Other			10058	192027	232160.643	240417.804
Donations and grants payable						0	0

Support costs	Salaries			39448
	Travel and subsistence			28845
	Printing, stationery and database administration			18917
	Other			9122	96332	116465.388	120607.664

Management and administration of the charity	Salaries			24380
	Accountancy fee			1907
	Other			3450	29737	35952.033	37230.724

Finance costs (bank charges) and depreciation					3820	4618.38	4782.64

Total resources expended					321916	389196.444	403038.832

Net Income/Expenditure					(2666)	(3223)	(3338)
Net foreign exchange gains/(losses)					(7374)	(8915)	(9232)

Net Incoming resources					(10040)	(12138)	(12570)

Balance brought forward at 1 January 2024					261660	316346.94	327598.32

Balance carried forward at 31 December 2024					251620	304208.58	315028.24


Balance sheet as at 31 December 2024
		2024	2023	2024	2023	2024	2023
		£	£	EUR(€)	EUR(€)	USD($)	USD($)

Fixed Assets		1532	1625	1852.188	649.139	1918.064	692.49

Current Assets
	Cash and debtors due	340593	294085	411776.937	341458.644	426422.436	364262.04
Creditors
	Amounts due within one year	(90505)	(34050)	(109421)	(28144)	(113312)	(30023)

Net Assets		251620	261660	304208.58	313964.206	315028.24	334931.46
Represented by:
	Unrestricted Funds	219165	229358	264970.485	276720	274394.58	295200
	Burdon Fund	32455	32302	39238.095	37244.206	40633.66	39731.46

Funds		251620	261660	304208.58	313964.206	315028.24	334931.46

Statement by the Association’s reporting accountant: These summarised accounts are extracted from the full financial statement of the Association which were subject to an unqualified Independent Examination report by Locke Williams Associates LLP, Blackthorn House, St Pauls Square, Birmingham, B3 1RL. The independent examiners have confirmed that the summarised accounts are consistent with the full annual financial statements and the Trustees’ Annual Report of International Association of Hydrogeologists for the year ended 31 December 2024. The annual report and accounts were adopted by the IAH Council on 17 September 2025 and will be submitted to the Charity Commission and the Registrar of Companies.

These summarised accounts may not contain sufficient information to gain a complete understanding of the financial affairs of the Association. For further information, the full accounts, the reporting accountants’ report on those accounts and the trustees’ annual report should be consulted; copies of these can be obtained from the IAH International Office or downloaded from www.iah.org.

Throughout this report the conversion from sterling (£) to Euro (€) is at the rate of €1.209 = £1 and to US Dollar ($) is at the rate of $1.252 = £1.

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