In 2012, the Institute of Fundraising commissioned nfpSynergy to compile a synthesis of research into major donor giving. Five years later, much has changed in the UK, not least the unfolding ramifications of the vote to leave the European Union in 2016. Despite fears that the Brexit vote would plunge the economy into a fresh turmoil, Britain’s super-rich at least appeared to have reaped the benefits of a “Brexit boom”, with record wealth and more billionaires than ever before.
Whilst data on major donor giving since the Brexit vote is not yet available, major donor fundraising continues to be a fast growing element of UK charity fundraising activity, and a small proportion of ‘major’ donors disproportionately shape giving in the UK. There is now credible year-on-year data to substantiate claims of it being (at least pre-Brexit) a ‘boom time’ for UK philanthropy.