The philanthropy landscape is facing a new generation of donors with with significantly greater prioritization of impact, innovation, and accountability, according to a report by Lombard Odier.
Philanthropist’s of the next generation are taking a different and more nuanced approach to charitable giving, according to a Lombard Odier report entitled The Next [Gen] Chapter of Philanthropy.
Contrary to popular opinion, 80% of philanthropists say younger and older generations share the same values and motivations for giving. However, younger donors are nearly three times more likely to cite measurable impact as a priority (19% versus 7%) and more than twice as likely to prioritise innovation (27% versus 13%).
The report surveyed 260 high net worth individuals across Switzerland, Singapore, UAE, and UK, of which half were below 45 years old and half were above.
Unique traditions, culture and, philanthropic infrastructure in each market
While philanthropic desires were strong and consistent across markets, there were unique characteristics in the different markets.
In Switzerland, for example, giving is part of long-term family wealth planning with 50% of respondents from the market citing the integration of philanthropy as the top service they expect from wealth mangers. Singapore combines digital sophistication with a strong appetite for innovation, with 60% expecting to make use of new or different vehicles and instruments in the future. UAE is seeking a more structured approach, recording the strongest demand for support in developing philanthropic strategies with KPIs (57%).
Record amount by lower number of donors
Interestingly, while total value reached record levels with the US reaching USD 617.2 billion in 2025, according to a report by Giving USA 2026, there is concentration of philanthropic capital among a small group of donors.
“Philanthropy enters the second half of this decade carrying a contradiction it has not yet resolved. While in aggregate, giving has never been larger, the base of people doing the giving is thinning fast,” said Maximilian Martin, Lombard Odier’s global head of philanthropy.
“As wealth passes to the next generation, philanthropy is increasingly bound up with a much bigger conversation: about succession, governance, family values and long-term purpose. Within this context, younger donors are not abandoning the values of previous generations but are asking how a more professional approach can translate those same values into more enduring impact.”
