United Kingdom has unveiled a new roadmap aimed at making billions of pounds in philanthropic funding more accessible to some of England’s most underserved communities, as part of a broader push to tackle entrenched social and economic inequalities.
This initiative is designed to rebalance how charitable donations are distributed nationwide, ensuring that areas outside London receive a more equitable share of financial support.
At the heart of the plan is a recognition that, despite the scale of charitable giving across the country, its benefits have not been evenly felt. In 2025 alone, £14 billion was donated to charity across the UK, yet London continues to dominate the philanthropic landscape. The capital receives more than a third of all funding from the largest foundations and four times the value of Gift Aid donations compared to the national average, leaving many regions comparatively underfunded and underserved.
The government’s new roadmap, “Our Place to Give”, seeks to address these disparities by strengthening connections between philanthropic donors and grassroots organisations beyond London.
According to Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth Minister Stephanie Peacock, the initiative is intended to empower philanthropists to support causes that matter most to them at a local level.
“By better connecting generous individuals with local organisations at the heart of their communities, we can unlock a new wave of giving that reaches every corner of the country.”
Stephanie Peacock
The plan, supported by £1 million in government financing, provides an organized, place-based approach to philanthropy. This involves generating match-funding possibilities, encouraging donors to get more involved in program creation, and ensuring their viewpoints are represented in how financing projects are planned and implemented. The objective is to not just increase access to money, but also to improve its effectiveness.
Beyond funding distribution, the plan places a strong emphasis on building durable partnerships between donors, communities, and institutions.
Steve Rigby, Chair of the Rigby Foundation and CEO of Rigby Group, highlighted the potential of the initiative to unlock further investment across the country, noting that the UK is home to a strong base of philanthropists capable of driving impactful change.
“Through my family’s charitable work in the West Midlands and my participation in the Philanthropy Reference Group, I’ve seen first-hand how connecting generous donors with local people and projects can drive meaningful, lasting change.”
Steve Ridgy
With up to £7 trillion estimated to be passed down by 2050, the plan is also well-positioned to benefit from a substantial intergenerational wealth transfer. The government intends to increase the long-term effect of philanthropic contribution by encouraging future donors to focus their resources on places that are most in need by creating clearer channels for donating.
Key measures outlined in the plan include £1 million in funding over three years to help organisations build capacity, share expertise, and attract further investment to support sustainable growth. A network of regional philanthropic ambassadors will also be established to strengthen connections between donors, communities, and government, while closer collaboration with the financial services sector aims to improve access to philanthropic advice.
The government also intends to foster a more open and inclusive culture of giving by celebrating the impact of local philanthropy and encouraging the next generation of donors to reinvest in the communities that shaped them. Through these combined efforts, the roadmap aims to ensure that charitable giving becomes more evenly distributed, strategically aligned, and capable of delivering lasting change across England.
Charity Sector Backs UK Philanthropy Rebalance Plan
Fresh data and strong backing from across the charitable sector have highlighted both the scale of giving in the UK and the imbalance the government’s new roadmap is seeking to address. Total charitable donations were estimated at £14 billion in 2025, with individual philanthropy accounting for £11.3 billion the previous year.
However, funding remains unevenly distributed, with London receiving more than a third of all foundation support and four times the value of Gift Aid donations compared to the UK average.
Steve Morgan, Founder and Chairman of the Steve Morgan Foundation, said there is clear evidence that place-based giving is effective, noting that his organisation has applied the approach successfully for over 25 years.
Moreover, Emma de Closset, CEO of UK Community Foundations, explained that Our Place to Give sets out a positive ambition to encourage philanthropists to invest in the communities that have shaped them, working through trusted local partners with on-the-ground expertise.
She added that “recognising the role of community foundations in catalysing place‑based giving, the roadmap strengthens the connections between donors, communities and the local organisations enabling change on the ground.”
Overall, the new initiative builds on the government’s wider ambitions for community renewal across United Kingdom.
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