PWM: Private banks slow to respond to philanthropic families
We are proud to see our philanthropy affiliate, Ali James, featured in Professional Wealth Management’s recent coverage of how wealthy families are reshaping their approach to giving.
In the article, Ali highlights a persistent challenge: despite donors becoming more values‑driven, analytical and intentional, philanthropy is still too often treated as an afterthought within wealth planning. Advice frequently stops at the structural mechanics of giving, with limited support to help families identify the causes, organisations and partners that truly reflect their priorities, purpose and desired outcomes.
Ali calls for a shift toward deeper sector expertise, stronger curation, and impact‑led decision‑making frameworks – all of which enable families to give with confidence, clarity and long‑term purpose. She also highlights the need for many non‑profits to modernise their transparency, measurement and engagement models, mirroring the expectations of today’s donors – especially next‑generation philanthropists who seek tangible impact, data‑driven reporting and more contemporary, values‑aligned relationships.
As a new era of wealth transfer dawns, charitable giving is being increasingly shaped by a combination of emotional readiness, liquidity events and shifting personal values
Shifting landscape
The result is a philanthropic landscape that is increasingly analytical, values-driven and data-conscious. The report also finds that donors’ priorities have become more fluid and less predictable in recent years, reflecting the broader economic and social turbulence in which giving now takes place.
While the Barclays study highlights high levels of engagement among wealthy individuals, it also points to uneven advisory provision. Philanthropy is still too often treated as peripheral to the wealth strategy, argues Ali James, an independent charity consultant and philanthropy affiliate at Acorn Capital Advisers, which provides advice to wealthy families.
“Charitable giving is not always offered as part of a wealth management strategy. And when it is, there is a lack of knowledge beyond how to set up the financial mechanisms for giving” – Ali James, Acorn Capital Advisers
Too often, she adds, there is insufficient expertise on the charity sector itself or guidance on which organisations best align with a client’s values. Philanthropy then becomes either a “bolt-on” or something the client feels they must manage independently.
The challenge is compounded by the complexity of the charitable landscape, believes Ms James. The sheer volume of organisations, both in the UK and globally, and the diversity of causes they support, can overwhelm even those with clear philanthropic intentions. Time-poor donors, she notes, may end up supporting the first organisation that aligns vaguely with their values, rather than integrating philanthropy into their broader wealth strategy.
Great expectations
Many charities have further to go in adapting to the expectations of modern philanthropists, says Ms James. “Many non-profits need to modernise. They must focus on transparency, produce better impact reporting and offer philanthropic packages that genuinely resonate with wealthy donors, many of whom are successful business leaders or entrepreneurs.”
She points to organisations such as The Fore, a venture philanthropy fund, and several universities, including Imperial College, as institutions pursuing more contemporary, data-driven approaches. But she believes the sector as a whole remains uneven.
Nonetheless, philanthropy is becoming more deeply embedded in wealth planning, particularly as donor families move away from one-off gifts and towards long-term engagement. “People’s reasons for giving back are more varied and nuanced,” says Ms James. “Many donors now want their philanthropy to be a long-term investment with tangible outcomes and impact. Their charitable donations should receive the same attention as the other elements of their wealth strategy.”
The generational handover of wealth is expected to accelerate this transition. The younger cohort, she says, is more transactional in its expectations, more driven by measurable impact and more willing to support a diverse range of causes. As income from low-level donations declines and major gifts rise, she argues that charities must adopt a more strategic, impact-led approach and advisers must ensure that well-rounded charitable expertise is embedded within future wealth planning.
“It is imperative that charities and advisers prepare accordingly,” states Ms James. These opportunities will be “transformational — but only if they are managed well.”
The full article was published in Professional Wealth Management
About Acorn Capital Advisers
At Acorn, we turn intention into purposeful philanthropy.
We help families articulate a clear vision rooted in values and long‑term purpose, then design a bespoke philanthropic strategy with impact at its core.
Our team curates opportunities and conducts partner selection and due diligence, builds appropriate governance and reporting, and provides ongoing monitoring, evaluation and adaptation so giving remains effective over time. We navigate a complex charitable landscape – mitigating risks, untangling complexity and saving precious time – so families can act with clarity, confidence and coherence.
Independent and unconflicted, we stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with our clients to make philanthropy a strategic, enduring expression of family identity and stewardship, delivered with thoughtful structure and meaningful impact.
To discuss how we can help your family shape a focused and effective philanthropy strategy, we welcome you to contact us.