--- title: "Macmillan vs Cancer Research UK — charity comparison" description: "Macmillan vs Cancer Research UK compared: patient support vs cancer research, Clarity Score beacons, cause spend and UK regulator filings" source: https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/compare/macmillan-vs-cancer-research-uk retrieved: 2026-08-18T00:46:55.247Z license: "Charity data © Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0" --- [MC](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/macmillan-cancer-support) [MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/macmillan-cancer-support) 75/100 4★ Reg. 261017 compared with [CR](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/cancer-research-uk) [CANCER RESEARCH UK](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/cancer-research-uk) 83/100 4★ Reg. 1089464 # Macmillan vs Cancer Research UK — charity comparison **In short:** Macmillan focuses on support for people living with cancer; Cancer Research UK funds research into prevention, diagnosis and treatment — compare filings and Clarity Scores, then fund the model you want. Data from [Charity Commission register](https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/), last updated 29 July 2026. Searches for Macmillan vs Cancer Research UK usually mean a donor is torn between two trusted brands. They are complementary more than interchangeable: one is built around support services, the other around research. Use the filings snapshot below and the four Clarity Score beacons — Accountability & Transparency, Financial Health, Financial Efficiency (cause spend), and Community Support — then decide which job you want your donation to fund. This is information, not donation advice. ## Key differences | What to compare | MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT | CANCER RESEARCH UK | | --- | --- | --- | | Primary model | Patient information, support services, grants and advocacy | Research funding, labs, trials and cancer information at scale | | Results timeline | Help for people affected by cancer now | Longer-term scientific and clinical progress | | What “cause spend” includes | Support programmes and related charitable activities | Research grants and charitable research activity | | Brand familiarity | Very high — support and fundraising presence | Very high — research and fundraising presence | | Best if you want | Practical and emotional support for people with cancer | Investment in future treatments and discovery | ## What the latest filings show Figures from the most recent annual accounts on the Charity Commission register. Clarity scores use our [methodology](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/methodology). | Metric | MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT | CANCER RESEARCH UK | | --- | --- | --- | | Overall score | 75/100 (4★) | 83/100 (4★) | | Accountability & Finance | 100/100 | 100/100 | | Spend on charitable activities | 69% of expenditure | 64% of expenditure | | Fundraising efficiency | £3.1 raised per £1 fundraising (3-yr avg) | £5.8 raised per £1 fundraising (3-yr avg) | | Latest income | £246m | £735m | | Fundraising spend | 31% of expenditure | 18% of expenditure | | Reserves | 2 months | 6 months | | Accounts filing | On time | On time | | Data confidence | high | high | | Charity number | 261017 | 1089464 | [MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT on the register](https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/261017) · [CANCER RESEARCH UK on the register](https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1089464) ## MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT may suit you if… - You want donations to fund support for people living with cancer today - You or someone you know has used Macmillan-style services - You prefer tangible help lines and practical support over lab research [Full profile →](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/macmillan-cancer-support) ## CANCER RESEARCH UK may suit you if… - You want to fund research into better treatments - You are comfortable with longer research timelines - You want a research-led national cancer charity [Full profile →](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity/cancer-research-uk) ## Common questions ### Macmillan vs Cancer Research UK — which is better to donate to? Neither is universally better. Macmillan is oriented to patient support; Cancer Research UK to research. Compare Clarity Scores and cause spend on CharityCompare, then give to the model that matches your intention — many donors support both over time. ### Are Macmillan and Cancer Research UK both legitimate UK charities? Yes — both are long-established registered charities. Still verify the charity number on any unfamiliar appeal, because scammers borrow well-known names. ### How do I compare their Clarity Scores? Open both profiles or use the compare tool prefilled from this page. Look at all four beacons, not only Financial Efficiency — lowest overhead is not the same as best fit. 100 How we score charities +The Clarity Score is a 100-point rating from UK regulator filings (Charity Commission for England and Wales, OSCR and CCNI). Four pillars — Accountability & Transparency (40), Financial Health (30), Financial Efficiency (20), and Community Support (10) — each scored on a continuous scale, not pass/fail cutoffs. A statutory inquiry sets the score to 0 automatically. [Full methodology →](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/methodology) Accountability & Transparency Scored from filings 40 points — filing history (15), trustee oversight (15, scaling up to a board of three or more), declared policies (10). Financial Health Scored from filings 30 points — reserves (15, full marks 3–24 months, tapering on both sides), income stability (10), liabilities to assets (5, scaling down as debt rises). Financial Efficiency Scored from filings 20 points — program expense ratio and fundraising cost, each on a graduated scale (not a single cutoff). Kept at 20% of the total: financial-ratio scoring alone is not a reliable effectiveness signal (see "why not just an overhead ratio?" below). Community Support Scored from filings 10 points — volunteer-to-staff ratio from Charity Commission workforce data, scaling continuously up to a 2:1 ratio. Overall score Sum of all pillar points. Display stars use the same bands as the labels: 90–100 → 5★ Exceptional; 75–89 → 4★ Good; 60–74 → 3★ Needs improvement; 1–59 → 2★ Poor; 0 → not rated. [Compare these charities side-by-side](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/compare-charities?ids=macmillan-cancer-support,cancer-research-uk) [Back to compare](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/compare-charities)