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Coutts research highlights growing UK philanthropy sector

• Highest number of charitable donations worth over £1 million in three years
• An increase in the value of donations over £1 million
• Higher education now the preferred cause of million pound donors
• Number of donations by high net worth individuals broadly consistent over three years of the study

The annual Coutts Million Pound Donor Report released today reveals the resilience of philanthropy in the UK and the desire of donors of all types to sustain and indeed increase their giving despite the still fragile economic situation. The report, in association with the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent, tracks the quantity, size and destination of charitable donations worth £1 million or more in the UK and shows an increase in the value of these donations last year.

The number of donations of £1 million or more is the highest in the three years Coutts has been tracking this data – 201 separate donations, up from 193 in 2006/7 and 189 in 2007/8. The value of donations over £1 million is showing signs of post-recession recovery and in 2008/9 the value was £1.548 billion – up £143 million from £1.405 billion in 2007/8 – although still lower than levels in 2006/07. The number of donations from individuals remains more or less consistent – with 100 donations compared to 96 in 2007/8; and 102 in 2006/7.

The report, written by Dr Beth Breeze, a founding member of the University of Kent’s Centre for Philanthropy, Humanitarianism and Social Justice, is illustrated with a number of case studies of donors and recipients, who discuss their experience. For the first time, the report also looks at the geographical spread of donations. The report is available for download on the Philanthropy Insights page of Coutts.com.

Maya Prabhu, Head of UK Philanthropy at Coutts said:"The positive trends on the on-going growth in UK Philanthropy noted in this report resonates with the interest in this subject amongst our clients. Many of our clients are keen to give something back and create a social impact. We aim to provide them with opportunities to learn from experts and share experiences with other philanthropists on effective giving This report reflects on topics that we know are important to them, such as ‘collaboration’ with other donors. We hope the report and the case studies of donors and recipients will inspire those who are keen to make a real difference through their philanthropy."

Beth Breeze added: "Many positive conclusions can be drawn from this report as we appear to be living in an era that is increasingly aware of the presence and value of philanthropy. The signs appear to be good for ongoing positive trends toward a greater number of major donations and for the total value of million pound donations to increase."

"We are delighted that the first two Coutts Million Pound Donor Reports proved to be useful to charities, donors, fundraisers, philanthropic advisers, policymakers and all who care about encouraging major philanthropy in the UK. We hope the 2010 edition of the report will be of similar value."

Key findings of the report include:

• The number of million pound donations is the highest in the three years this data has been tracked and the value of these largest donations has increased since last year.
• The visibility of those involved in philanthropy is increasing, with fewer anonymous donations this year, indicating donors are keener to be seen and act as role models.
• Higher education continues to be the preferred cause of million pound donors. For the first time, the collective value of donations to UK universities exceeds the sums placed into charitable foundations. The report suggests this is party due to wealthy donors’ understanding of the wide-ranging roles that universities play in improving society, in terms of both educating the next generation and researching solutions to pressing scientific and social problems.
• Many major donors are based in London, but there is a strong showing for Scotland, the North East and the Midlands. Areas which perhaps lack a strong regional identity such as the South East have fewer such donors especially in relation to the amount of wealth held by individuals living in that region.
• Examining philanthropy in the North West in particular, it is clear that some donors are keen to focus some of their philanthropy around the region where they are based.

Launched in 2008, the Coutts Million Pound Donors Report is an annual report that collates and analyses data on the largest charitable donations made in the UK each year. The 2010 edition describes and discusses 201 donations of at least £1 million that were made by UK donors or to UK charities in 2008/9, with a combined value of just over £1.5 billion. The report assesses the scale and impact of such gifts, analyses trends in major giving and presents case studies of both ‘million pound donors’ and ‘million pound recipients’, to provide insights into the experience of both giving and receiving gifts on this scale.

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