UK’s Wealthiest Increase Charitable Giving by £500m… A Sign of Growing Philanthropic Focus

The UK’s wealthiest individuals donated £3.7bn to charitable causes over the past year, an increase of nearly half a billion pounds, according to the latest Sunday Times Giving List, published in partnership with the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).

Tracking donations from those listed in the Sunday Times Rich List and the 40 richest under 40, the report highlights a shift in both the scale and nature of giving.

Hedge fund leaders topped the list for the first time, collectively donating over £5.3m each week.

Chris Hohn, founder of The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, was named the UK’s most generous donor, giving £983m to support initiatives addressing climate change, global health, and gender equality.

Meanwhile, Quadrature Capital founders Suneil Setiya and Greg Skinner jointly led the rankings by percentage of wealth donated, having contributed £270m between them.

The list also reflects a broader cultural trend, with high-profile entrants such as Harry Styles, new to the list at position 15, and Elton John, who continues his significant support for HIV/AIDS research, the arts, and humanitarian causes.

Beyond the headlines, the Giving List reveals an important dynamic: 64 of the top 100 donors gave less than 1% of their wealth, whilst just 10 individuals contributed over £100m each.

This disparity underlines ongoing conversations about philanthropic strategy and sustainable giving.

High-net-worth individuals are critical to enabling charities to do more of their life-changing work, particularly as costs rise and demand surges.

Neil Heslop – CEO, CAF