Promoting Philanthropy

The NMDC is firmly committed to promoting a culture of philanthropy. Since 1992 there has been a 25% rise in personal incomes in the UK, and personal wealth has more than doubled, and yet there has been a 25% fall in charitable giving as a percentage of GDP. By comparison, private giving in the United States is twice that of the UK.

We feel strongly that, to support a change in the giving culture, all signals for promoting philanthropy should point in the same direction. Such an approach would include an unabashed celebration of philanthropy, public recognition of the contribution made by philanthropists, and fiscal incentives to encourage a culture of giving.

UK museums were founded through the contributions of individual philanthropists, driven by the conviction that citizens quality of life would be enhanced by access to important objects, imaginatively interpreted within a core educational purpose. Building on this legacy, we are committed to promoting civic engagement and renewal through encouraging individuals to strengthen the great public collections for the benefit of all.

To read a full NMDC briefing on promoting philanthropy click here.

Private Giving for the Public Good

In April 2008 Britain's major cultural institutions came together to launch a new manifesto, Private Giving for the Public Good, opening a nationwide campaign to encourage a culture of giving to the arts and heritage.

The campaign calls for greater support to encourage a culture of giving and wider recognition of the contribution made by cultural philanthropists. Many UK cultural institutions were founded through the contributions of private benefactors who wished to give something back to their communities. The aim is to encourage the philanthropists of the future.

There are a number of specific strands of activity/policy which would fulfil that agenda:

  • Incentives to encourage gifts to British collections
  • Reforms to Gift Aid
  • Lifetime Legacies
  • Recognition
  • Capacity building in the sector.

Gift Aid Consultation

NMDC's response to the HM Treasury consultation on Gift Aid can be found here.