Charitable giving by the UK’s wealthiest reached an estimated £12.4 billion in 2025, according to The Modern Philanthropist report. The figure marks an increase from £11.3 billion recorded a year earlier and reflects data compiled by Barclays Private Bank and Wealth Management together with New Philanthropy Capital, highlighting a notable upward trend in high-net-worth philanthropy.
Among individuals with at least £1 million in investible assets, 94% contributed to charitable causes in 2025, up from 88% in 2021. This broad participation shows a growing commitment across the high-net-worth segment and suggests that charitable culture is becoming more ingrained among affluent households.
Looking ahead, more than half of these donors expect to raise their contributions over the next twelve months. In the group holding over £10 million, 72% anticipate increasing their giving, indicating that the most affluent segment is planning to expand its financial support for nonprofit work.
Donations vary widely by wealth tier. For those with £1-5 million, the bottom 20% gave an average of £400, while the top 10% contributed about £53,100. In the £5-30 million range, the lowest quintile averaged £1,400, contrasted with £119,300 from the highest decile, illustrating how giving capacity scales with asset size.
When asked about future plans, 37% said they would raise donations modestly, and 39% intended to keep their contributions steady, showing a balanced outlook between growth and stability in philanthropic intentions.
Advice appears to shape generosity. 60% of donors who consult a financial adviser intend to increase giving, compared with 29% of those who do not. Average annual gifts total £36,000 for adviser-guided donors, £26,000 for those influenced mainly by charities or peers, and £18,000 for donors guided by relatives and friends, showing the role of professional counsel in donation decisions.
The findings come from a Savanta survey of 500 high-net-worth individuals conducted between 6 March and 9 April 2025. New Philanthropy Capital incorporated additional questions on donor satisfaction into its ongoing MillionaireVue study covering 2024-2026, providing a longitudinal view of charitable behaviour.
Charities are urged to translate this goodwill into higher funding levels, as the data suggests a receptive donor base ready to expand its support and to allocate resources toward programmes that demonstrate clear outcomes and accountability.