UK Achievements Report

Human genome and abolition of slavery included in eclectic list of UK philanthropy's

20th December, 2006

Christmas is a popular time for making charitable donations but not many people know what philanthropy actually achieves. A new report on British philanthropy's greatest achievements finds that a vast array of successes are due, in part, to such charitable gifts. Named achievements include the financing of campaigns that abolished slavery, banned handguns and introduced gay marriage; funding of pioneering health services such as hospices, support for people with HIV/AIDS and the research that sequenced the human genome; and help for the basic needs of the poor in pre-welfare state Britain and those living in poor countries today. The findings are based on a comprehensive survey of UK philanthropic experts, including those working in research and academic institutions, charitable foundations and other philanthropic-support organisations.

The survey found that the three major achievements of historic (pre-1900) philanthropy are:

Provision of social services before the creation of the welfare state;
Campaigning which led to the abolition of the slave trade;
and Provision of education and leisure opportunities for the masses;

It found that the three major achievements of modern (post-1900) philanthropy are:

Famine relief and long-term aid to developing countries;
Health research and pioneering health services;
and Campaigning which led to major social change.

Moreover, the paper reveals just how many of the social advances that Britain has made are due directly to the efforts of its generous citizens. Its author, Beth Breeze, commented that:

“The quantity and the quality of the philanthropic achievements that were nominated were astonishing, and proved that people who are willing to back their passions with their own money can really change the world for the better.”

She continued:

“The findings show that the greatest achievements are not necessarily those that cost the most or are funded by a named philanthropist. Some of the most notable achievements are the result of the efforts of a lot of ordinary, generous people. This proves that you don’t have to be rich to be philanthropic, and that everyone can experience the satisfaction of helping to solve social problems.”

Salvatore LaSpada, the Chief Executive of the Institute for Philanthropy, agreed. He said that:

“We at the Institute for Philanthropy are pleased to have captured this history, which we see as a proud legacy upon which a new generation of UK givers can build.”