A decade of Fundraising by NON-UK UNiversity charitable Trusts 2014-23

This study represents the most comprehensive review to date of charitable trusts established in the UK by non-UK universities and research institutions, covering a full decade of data from 2014 to 2023. It extends our previous analysis (2014–2018) and offers an expanded lens on the growing practice among international institutions of leveraging the UK’s charitable framework to engage alumni and donors.

Key findings

  • There are 94 such university trusts with the primary purpose of raising funds to support the university in its home country.

  • £685.9 million in donations was raised via 94 UK-registered university charitable trusts.

  • Since 2000, 63 such trusts (67%) have been established, indicating a sustained shift in institutional strategy over the past two decades.

  • The largest recipients by total income are:

    • British Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (£79.0m)

    • University of Pennsylvania (USA) Foundation (£72.1m)

    • The Bologna Center of The Johns Hopkins University Charitable Trust (£64.0m)

  • The three leading recipients alone secured more than £215 million.

  • The top 10 university trusts (all US or Israeli) accounted for £482 million - over 70% of the total income.

  • 24 new trusts were established in the decade 2014-23.

  • Commonwealth universities performed well. The top 10 such institutions collectively raised £30 million. The leading Commonwealth institutions were:

    • University of Cape Town

    • University of Melbourne

    • University of the Witwatersrand.

  • 2023 was a particularly significant year, with nearly £157m raised, the highest single-year total in the dataset.

  • US and Israeli institutions dominate the landscape of UK charitable trusts established by non-UK universities and institutes, reflecting the deep-rooted culture of alumni giving in their home markets.

  • The Weizmann Institute Foundation is the oldest such trust established on 8 June 1950. Six out of the eight oldest university trusts are associated with Israeli institutions.