The UK has the potential for a “new era of philanthropy” to deal with some of its most difficult problems, the chief executive of the Charity Commission has said. 

Speaking at The Beacon Philanthropy and Impact Forum 2025 in London yesterday, David Holdsworth said charities were facing an “extremely challenging” set of circumstances due to rising costs, increased demand for services and a squeeze on public sources of funding. 

But this context provided a “once-in-several generations opportunity”, he said. 

“For while there may be huge challenge, there is also huge potential, right now, for a new era of philanthropy to tackle our most intractable social challenges. 

“We have the opportunity to resource and reignite the potential of our communities, through a renewed collaborative approach between our amazing charitable sector, corporate donors, philanthropists, communities and government.”

Holdsworth said it was time for the nation to “re-embrace the long and proud history of philanthropic impact, revive it, unleash it and celebrate it for our times”. 

He also said: “The potential of philanthropy lies not just in the immediate financial boost it might offer the individual charities, but in the agility and flexibility, the innovation and creativity it can encourage, inspire and unleash.”

Holdsworth said that in order to support philanthropy, the Charity Commission would take actions including promoting the UK “as a great place to give”, supporting charities to improve their governance and deliver data-led insights, which he said he hoped would “serve as inspiration to existing and potential philanthropists to give with heart and confidence”. 

He said: “Despite the challenges, I believe we have a generational opportunity to revive and reignite our proud history of philanthropic giving for a modern age.

“To build on the many recent examples of joined-up action, be it placed-based or issue-based, which sees philanthropy, community, business, media, politicians come together to unleash potential, solve issues or spark renewal.

“It is the power of that collective action, that joined-up approach to today’s challenges, that this generation of philanthropists and charities can use to continue to achieve the seemingly impossible, to improve the lives of many and unleash the spark of hope, innovation and opportunity.”