UNIVERSITY PHILANTHROPY RESEARCH BY THE CAPE PARTNERSHIP
PHILANTHROPY IS growing rapidly.
EDUCATION is the biggest BENEFICIARY of Philanthropic Giving.
Read our latest research and analysis on non-UK university fundraising drawing on a decade of data.
Download our latest insights paper that examines the low levels of global philanthropic giving to Latin American universities.
Read our latest study on diversity in foundation leadership
OUR VIEWS
Read Andrew Wigley’s article on the Fortune at the Bottom of the Philanthropic Pyramid published by the Dorothy A. Johnson Center.
UniversityPhilanthropy.com is an independent research resource examining the changing landscape of university philanthropy, institutional advancement and cross-border giving. Established in 2019, the site brings together original research, analysis and commentary on one of the most significant – yet least understood – sources of funding for higher education. Its focus is on how philanthropic capital flows across borders, why some universities attract disproportionate levels of support, and what these patterns reveal about the future of higher education worldwide.
Global University philanthropy is a boom sector.
Universities today operate in an increasingly competitive global philanthropic environment. Private giving supports scientific discovery, scholarships, medical research, innovation and institutional development, yet these resources remain distributed highly unevenly. Understanding those patterns has become an essential part of university leadership, advancement strategy and international engagement.
Research published through UniversityPhilanthropy.com, and developed further in the forthcoming book Global University Philanthropy, presents what is believed to be the first reasoned estimate of annual philanthropic giving to universities worldwide. Based on publicly available institutional data, foundation disclosures and international datasets, it suggests that global university philanthropy now amounts to approximately US$87–90 billion each year.
“Global university philanthropy now amounts to approximately US$87–90 billion each year.”
The research also highlights the extraordinary concentration of philanthropic capital. More than 80 per cent of global giving to universities is estimated to be directed to institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom, reflecting the historical development of advancement systems, legal frameworks, donor cultures and institutional capacity rather than simply institutional quality.
As philanthropic wealth continues to grow globally, universities across Africa, Latin America, Asia and continental Europe are increasingly seeking to strengthen their fundraising capacity and international partnerships. The opportunities are significant, but so too are the structural barriers. Much of the research presented here explores how those barriers are evolving and what they mean for the future geography of higher education.
The website contains original analyses of foundation giving, comparative studies of global philanthropic trends, and reflections on institutional advancement and international higher education. Together these aim to provide university leaders, advancement professionals, researchers and philanthropists with a clearer understanding of one of the fastest-changing areas of higher education finance.
Whether you are exploring historical giving patterns, seeking comparative international evidence, or following emerging developments in university philanthropy, we hope the research collected here provides a useful evidence base for both policy and practice.