A Goldman Sachs private wealth management survey found that 41% of respondents expect to increase their philanthropic giving over the next three years.
Only 3% said they plan to reduce their giving.
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The proportion rises to 48% among global respondents already donating more than $1.5m a year.
In Europe, 61% of respondents said they expect to increase giving during the period.
The findings appear in Philanthropy in Focus: Insights for a New Era of Giving, a Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management report on philanthropy among ultra-high net worth (UHNW) individuals and families.
The report is based on an anonymous online quantitative survey conducted in June 2026.
Goldman Sachs received 569 responses from private clients, family businesses and family offices involved in philanthropic giving.
Sixty percent of respondents give at least $250,000 each year, while 18% donate $1.5 million or more annually.
The sample was concentrated in the Americas, which accounted for 93% of responses. EMEA represented 7% and APAC 1%.
Values and beliefs were the main stated reason for giving, cited by 78% of respondents. Personal connection, relationship or engagement with a cause was selected by 51%.
Tax considerations were less prominent. The charitable tax deduction was cited as a reason for giving by 12%, while 6% said tax deductions influence the amount they give annually.
Geopolitical developments have affected giving decisions for 45% of respondents.
Of the total sample, 30% said they had increased giving, 16% had redirected support towards different causes, and 9% had moved towards more long-term, multi-year gifts.
Education was the most supported cause, with 56% of respondents giving to the sector. Local communities followed at 34%, ahead of health at 24% and arts and culture at 22%.
Family members take part in philanthropy for 75% of respondents.
Multi-year commitments are used by 76% of respondents, either independently or alongside one-off gifts.
AI is already part of philanthropic activity for 20% of respondents. A further 19% said they would like to incorporate AI.
The report links these trends to pressure on public-good funding. It points to rising global government debt, ageing populations, and greater demand for healthcare, pensions and social services.
It also identifies possible AI-related productivity gains, alongside labour-market disruption, reskilling needs and other near-term pressures.
The report examines how the historic intergenerational wealth transfer and the growing share of wealth held by women could affect UHNW philanthropy.
Goldman Sachs Wealth Management philanthropy engagement and legacy planning global head Carra Cote-Ackah said: “Philanthropic capital has a structural edge that governments, corporations and markets can’t replicate.
“It can be both agile and patient, take risks, back innovation and fund everything from direct relief to systems change. Our role is to help clients anticipate what’s ahead, explore issues that matter most to their family, and create enduring impact.”
