At National Philanthropic Trust UK (NPT UK) and NPT Transatlantic, we are proud to help our donors turn their philanthropic ambitions into meaningful impact in the United Kingdom (UK) and around the world. Our donor-advised funds (DAFs) provide donors with a flexible and effective way to manage their charitable giving, respond to changing needs and support the causes and communities they care about. The 2025/2026 fiscal year (FY26) marked another year of grantmaking growth, with an increase in the number of grants recommended to charitable organisations.
Against a backdrop of continued economic uncertainty, cost-of-living pressures and growing demand for charitable services, individuals, communities and charities have faced significant challenges over the past year. At the same time, international conflict, humanitarian crises and the impacts of climate change have reinforced the need for responsive and sustained philanthropic support. Throughout FY26 our donors continued to respond generously, supporting communities facing immediate need while providing charities with funding to pursue longer-term goals. Their philanthropy helped address a wide range of priorities, from economic hardship and community resilience in the UK to humanitarian needs and environmental challenges around the world.
This year marks a significant milestone: since our founding, NPT UK and NPT Transatlantic have made over 10,000 grants resulting in over £630 million in funding for more than 3,000 charitable organisations across 55 countries.
During FY26, our donors recommended more than 2,600 grants totalling £187 million, supporting 1,586 unique charitable organisations across the UK and internationally.
This report highlights the breadth and generosity of our donors’ giving over the past year. The stories and data here demonstrate the important role donor-advised funds (DAFs) can play in supporting philanthropy, from community-based organisations to larger strategic initiatives.
Collaboration is essential to growing philanthropy and extending its impact. I am grateful to the Boards of Trustees of NPT UK and NPT Transatlantic, our valued partners, my dedicated colleagues and, most importantly, our donors, whose generosity makes this work possible.
Warm regards,
Natalie Pinon
Interim CEO
National Philanthropic Trust UK & NPT Transatlantic
Executive Summary
NPT UK is an English charity driven by our mission to make philanthropy more convenient and efficient for donors. We provide donor-advised funds (DAFs) to donors in the UK and around the world who wish to base their philanthropy from the UK.
NPT Transatlantic is a dual-qualified charity, recognised as a charitable organisation in both the UK and the United States (US). NPT Transatlantic is an independent English charity (Charity Number 1153376) and is recognised by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a public charity because it is a disregarded entity of National Philanthropic Trust (EIN 23-7825575) for US federal tax purposes. NPT Transatlantic provides donor-advised funds and a single gift service for UK/US dual taxpayer donors.
We are delighted to share our annual 2026 Grantmaking Report which provides an overview of charitable giving by our donors during our 2026 fiscal year (FY26), covering the period from 01 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.
During FY26 NPT UK and NPT Transatlantic saw a continued growth in the volume of grants awarded to charities from DAFs. Our donors supported a broad range of charitable causes, responding to immediate needs while maintaining longer-term commitments across education, communities, culture, health and the environment.
Grantmaking Highlights
Over 2,630 Grant Recommendations
NPT UK and NPT Transatlantic awarded 2,636 grants in FY26, an increase of 34% compared to FY25.
1,586 Charities Supported
NPT UK and NPT Transatlantic granted to 1,586 unique charities worldwide, a 25% increase over the previous year.
Grant Value Increased Over 47%
NPT UK and NPT Transatlantic made grants totalling £187 million, a 47% increase over last year.
Grantmaking Themes
Giving in a Changing World
The world around us is changing rapidly. From humanitarian crises and economic uncertainty to growing inequality and new challenges facing communities, the needs to which charities are responding are becoming increasingly complex. Philanthropy has an important role to play in helping communities navigate this uncertainty. Through flexible, timely and sustained support, donors respond to urgent needs while also helping organisations build resilience for the future.
This year’s grants demonstrate the many ways philanthropy can make a difference in times of change: supporting people affected by crisis, tackling inequality, improving health and wellbeing, and helping those who are most vulnerable. More than 920 grants supported work addressing social need and strengthening communities, alongside 182 grants focused on improving health and wellbeing.
Together, these grants show that giving is not simply about responding when a crisis occurs. It is about standing alongside communities, backing the organisations that understand their needs, and providing support that enables them to respond, recover and thrive.
Investing in the Future
Some of the most important changes philanthropy can help create take time. By investing in people, communities, ideas and organisations today, donors can help create a better future for generations to come. This means looking beyond immediate needs to support the foundations of long-term change: from education and opportunity to health, research, climate action, culture and community development.
This year’s grants highlight the many ways donors are investing in the future: widening opportunity, protecting the natural world, supporting creativity and backing innovation to address some of society’s biggest challenges. This included nearly £55 million supporting learning and education, and approximately £30 million supporting creativity, cultural heritage and access to the arts. Donors also recommended more than 300 grants to protect biodiversity, conservation, climate and animal welfare, alongside significant long term investments in organisations seeking new solutions to complex societal challenges.
Grantmaking Volume on the Rise
Grantmaking helps us achieve our mission of increasing philanthropy in society. Donors use their DAFs to recommend grants to charities.
The number of grants recommended by NPT UK donors has grown by 34% since FY25. These grants support charities of all sizes and various focus areas across the world. This reflects our donors’ commitment to creating positive impact through their philanthropy in the UK and around the world.
Total Volume (#) Grants FY24-FY26
Grantmaking Value Increases Since FY24
Driven by the response to ongoing global crises and humanitarian needs, the combined grantmaking value of NPT UK and NPT Transatlantic increased by 47% compared with FY25.
Total Value (£) of Grants FY24 – FY26
Numbers expressed in millions
Donors Support a Wide Range of Charities
NPT UK and NPT Transatlantic donors continued to support the charities they are most passionate about, while expanding their philanthropic efforts to new charities across the globe.
In FY26, NPT UK donors recommended grants to 906 unique charities, an increase of 40% over FY25.
NPT Transatlantic donors broadened their support, recommending grants to 664 unique charities, a 9% increase compared to FY25.
Number of Unique Charities
Supported by NPT UK and NPT Transatlantic Donors
Grantmaking Areas of Focus
During FY26 our donors recommended grants to a diverse range of organisations, across eight different interest areas. These areas included:
- Public & Societal Benefit, which supports organisations focused on civic engagement, advocacy, and the public good
- Education, encompassing learning, research, skills development, and access to educational opportunities
- Culture & Arts, covering the arts, heritage, cultural preservation, and creative expression
- Human Services, including poverty relief, social welfare, and community support
- Environment & Animals, which supports conservation, sustainability, and animal welfare initiatives
- Health, encompassing medical care, health research, and wellbeing
- International, focused on global development, humanitarian aid, and international relief efforts
- Religion, supporting faith-based worship, ministry, and religious education
TOTAL VALUE (£) GRANTS BY AREA OF INTEREST FY26
Combined Figures for NPT UK and NPT Transatlantic
TOTAL VOLUME (#) GRANTS BY AREA OF INTEREST FY26
Combined Figures for NPT UK and NPT Transatlantic
Grantmaking Impact
The examples below, drawn from FY26 data, illustrate the breadth of our donors’ grantmaking from education and human services to humanitarian support and environmental conservation. Grantmaking during the year reflects a balanced approach, combining a high volume of grants to community-based organisations with larger strategic investments aimed at supporting longer-term impact.
Supporting Young People Facing Homelessness
Grants totalling £11,000 helped provide specialist support for LGBTQ+ young people experiencing homelessness, hardship or unsafe living environments, including funding for frontline caseworker support in Manchester.
Conserving Wildlife Habitats
A $100,000 grant supported conservation of an important wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia, helping protect endangered species and restore habitats threatened by illegal hunting, logging, land encroachment and ecosystem decline.
Inspiring a Love of Reading
Twelve grants of £200 provided regular support for a home-based literacy programme, helping disadvantaged children and their families discover the joy of reading through books, one-to-one attention and encouragement.
Protecting Habitats and Biodiversity
A $175,000 grant supported the protection of an ecologically important Indonesian forest landscape, helping fund conservation work to safeguard biodiversity, protect natural habitats and promote the sustainable management of ecosystems.
Alleviating Human Suffering in Conflict Zones
Twelve grants of £200 aided humanitarian work to clear landmines and other unexploded weapons from conflict-affected communities, helping people live more safely and rebuild their lives and livelihoods.
Advancing Women’s Rights
Grants totalling $235,000 supported organisations and movements advancing women’s rights and gender equality, helping provide sustained resources to grassroots, regional and global initiatives working towards lasting social change.
Improving Access to Effective Health Solutions
Grants totalling over £500,000 supported practical health interventions, including oral rehydration supplies, field data collection, implementation and digital monitoring, helping strengthen both delivery and understanding of their impact.
Broadening Access to Arts and Culture
A grant of £1 million was made to support major cultural programmes and exhibitions, including art in public spaces, helping broaden access to contemporary art and create opportunities for more people to engage with arts and culture.
Preparing Society for the Future of AI
A $5.6 million grant supported projects building public and scientific knowledge around AI, informing better understanding and preparation for the opportunities, risks and wider impacts of increasingly advanced technologies.
Thank You
We would like to extend a special thank you to our donors who make this charitable work possible.
To download a PDF of this report, click below:
NPT UK Grantmaking Report 2026 (PDF)