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Home About us Public affairs and policy Priorities for a government national strategy

Priorities for a Government National Strategy

Download proposal

Towards a national strategy for philanthropy and charitable giving


The philanthropy sector is calling for a renewed culture of giving in the UK. 

Since 2023, organisations from the philanthropy and charity sectors, convened by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) and New Philanthropy Capital (NPC), have come together to define policy proposals that could provide a viable framework for boosting philanthropy and charitable giving. 

This reflects a commitment from the sector to work alongside Government to maximise philanthropy and its impact.

Our proposal sets out the sector’s view of what a strategic national approach to philanthropy could look like. It features six priority areas to transform giving across the UK.

Six priority areas

Six interconnected priority areas to transform philanthropy and charitable giving across the United Kingdom.

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1. Understanding and engaging with philanthropy


  • Build a permanent, dedicated policy function for philanthropy. 
  • Appoint a philanthropy champion at the heart of Government. 
  • Ensure every relevant department has a clear focus on philanthropy, with specific philanthropy leads.
  • Conduct an assessment of civil society (and philanthropy) as part of a Spending Review.
  • Acknowledge the cultural diversity of giving practices.
  • Make greater use of match funding. 
  • Match fund under-served causes. 
  • Enable progress by taking a partnership approach.
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2. Enabling an effective philanthropy sector


  • Support the development of the philanthropy sector.
  • Determine a standard for data reporting. 
  • Share distribution data from trusts and foundations.
  • Expand the revitalising trusts programme. 
  • Make greater use of first-loss catalytic capital models.
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3. Supporting more giving by individuals


  • Introduce and encourage new philanthropy training for financial advisers and consider making it mandatory. 
  • Increase giving through pensions. 
  • Introduce Charitable Remainder Trusts. 
  • Apply tax relief to donations of unlisted shares. 
  • Enable giving alternative assets. 
  • Modernise Gift Aid.
  • Create a new UK solution for cross-boarder giving. 
  • Encourage regulators to recognise philanthropy as part of financial advice and financial services. 
  • Promote closer alignment between different regulators. 
  • Boost legacy giving. 
  • Make sure the probate service is appropriately resourced. 
  • Explore opportunities to develop a State Pension Donation Scheme. 
  • Encourage new philanthropy tools for wealth advisers within platform technology.
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4. Making use of local connection


  • Establish regional match funds and invest locally. 
  • Support the philanthropy capacity of local civil society organisations. 
  • Roll out place-based giving schemes and diaspora giving schemes. 
  • Work with local leaders. 
  • Draw on civic or ceremonial convening power. 
  • Share and use local data.  
  • Set up a substantial endowment match challenge.  
  • Work with civic mayors. 
  • Use dormant assets to support community wealth funds.
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5. Supporting more giving by companies and in workplaces


  • Reinstate mandatory reporting of charitable giving by companies. 
  • Designate a standard for corporate reporting of giving. 
  • Recognise corporate giving. 
  • Incentivise corporate match funding for employee giving. 
  • Conduct a review of workplace giving. 
  • Encourage corporates to give locally.
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6. Promoting and celebrating philanthropy


  • Rewrite tax guidance to support greater giving. 
  • Recognise the contribution of philanthropy. 
  • Amplify national giving initiatives to boost take up. 
  • Make consumer protection regulation and legislation proportionate for social purpose organisations. 
  • Encourage innovation in fundraising. 
  • Share stories for under-represented causes. 
  • Promote the UK as a centre for international philanthropy.

Download the proposal

Our proposal sets out the sector’s priorities to build a renewed culture of giving in the UK. 

Download proposal

You can also find the proposal document on the NPC website.

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