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.
The Government’s fresh approach to cultural philanthropy is very welcome, and we are encouraged by the range of Government activity and the concrete proposals in this area in the last few months. The announcements in the Budget 2011, which support and encourage philanthropic giving, are very important.
Read NMDC's response to the Government's Giving Green Paper in March 2011.
Read NMDC's response to the announcement on 8 December 2010 of DCMS plans to boost philanthropy.
Gifts of pre-eminent objects and works of art to the nation
NMDC responded to the Government consultation on proposals to encourage gifts of pre-eminent objects and works of art to the nation in September 2011. NMDC strongly welcomes this consultation, which reflects requests in our Green Paper response. The proposed scheme will, if it is well designed, crucially help to support the formation of long-term and life-time relationships between individual and corporate donors and cultural organisations. Further information on the proposed scheme can be found on the HM Treasury website.
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.
Download a copy of Private Giving for the Public Good.
Read a full NMDC briefing on promoting philanthropy.
Gift Aid Consultation
NMDC's response to the 2007 HM Treasury consultation on Gift Aid can be found here.