Top UK charitable trusts give over £300m to non-UK universities in 5 years

North American and African universities main beneficiaries of outbound philanthropy from the UK’s top 100 charitable trusts according to new research

6 August 2019, London --- Britain’s role as a major centre for outbound philanthropy to non-UK universities is revealed in a study of giving by Britain’s biggest foundations. 154 non-UK universities in 53 countries received over £300m in funding between 2014-18 from the UK’s top 100 charitable foundations and trusts. The study is published by UniversityPhilanthropy.com and The Cape Partnership, a London-based public affairs and policy advisory firm.

According to the research North American universities are the main beneficiaries receiving £96m (32 percent) of grants given by the UK’s leading foundations. African universities received £66m (22 percent) in grants, while European universities received £53m (17 percent).

60% of funds disbursed to non-UK universities since 2014 came from one source - the Wellcome Trust, a medical research grant-giving trust and the UK’s biggest charitable foundation. The Wellcome Trust gave over £180m to 118 non-UK universities over the past 5 years.

The single biggest beneficiary of reported giving is Monash University in Australia which has received nearly £34m in funding in five years from the Wellcome Trust.

Yale University in the United States received £26.6m while Trinity College, Dublin was the third biggest recipient over the past five years receiving nearly £17m. Five African universities have received nearly £40m in funding since 2014, reflecting a growing focus by leading foundations to support higher education in Africa.

2017 was the high water mark when £96.7m was given out to 63 non-UK universities. In 2018, the scale of donations dropped back significantly to £45.6m to 58 universities.

Commenting on the research Andrew Wigley, director of The Cape Partnership, said:

“Global philanthropy is a boom sector and education is known to be a preferred area of giving for philanthropists and philanthropic foundations. This research points to the importance of the UK as a centre for outbound philanthropy to non-UK universities.

“Around 20 percent of the UK’s biggest charitable foundations give to non-UK universities, providing £302m to 154 universities in 53 countries over the past five years. US and some African universities appear to be particularly successful in pursuing British-based philanthropy.

“While giving by the biggest charitable foundations is eye-catching, it is the tip of a philanthropic iceberg. It is estimated there are over 10,000 charitable foundations and trusts in the UK, disbursing grants worth over £3bn. The vast majority are family-run and give less than £1m annually.”

More information about the research is available at UniversityPhilanthropy.com.

ENDS