Altrata Report Finds Annual Ultra Wealthy Giving Reached $250 Billion in 2025, Up 32% on 2022 Levels

Even as government and multilateral aid retreat, giving by individuals continues to grow, topping $650 billion in 2025. Individuals worth $5 million or more are forecast to number 8.3 million by 2031, up from 5.8 million in 2025.

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Altrata, a leader in intelligence on the wealthy and well-connected, releases High Net Worth Philanthropy 2026, the eighth edition of its analysis into the donor activity of the global wealthy and the evolving landscape of philanthropic giving.

Ultra high net worth (UHNW) individuals worldwide, each worth $30 million or more, gave $250 billion to philanthropy in 2025. Though they number a little more than half a million individuals (nearly 557,000 people), they accounted for 38% of global giving by individuals. Their giving has also outpaced other major donor groups since 2018.

This edition also looks beyond the ultra wealthy to profile the 5.8 million individuals with a net worth of $5 million or more (the global wealthy). It debuts Altrata's Giving Opportunity Index, which benchmarks 100 leading cities globally across key criteria that shape philanthropic giving. The index reveals the 15 locations with the highest potential for high net worth fundraising.

Key findings from High Net Worth Philanthropy 2026

• North America continues to lead UHNW giving, while Europe and Asia gain ground. North America's ultra wealthy gave $115 billion in 2025, or 46% of the global UHNW total. Since 2022, ultra wealthy giving has risen 35% in Europe and 42% in Asia, the second-highest increase of any region.
• The pool of wealthy prospects and available philanthropic capital is set to keep rising. Individuals worth $5 million or more are forecast to number 8.3 million by 2031, up from 5.8 million in 2025. Their liquid assets are a key indicator of their capacity to make an immediate sizable gift. These assets are forecast to top $45 trillion by 2031, up from $33 trillion in 2025.
• The generational profile of the wealthy is set to change dramatically by 2040, and will have far-reaching implications. Today's Next Gens (Gen Z and Millennials) make up just 6% of this group but are projected to reach 37% by 2040 – a sixfold increase. Nonprofits will need to adapt their donor engagement strategies to suit a more global, digitally savvy generation.
• Wealthy women tend to be more philanthropically active than men, irrespective of their source of wealth. Among wealthy donors, women's median number of gifts was 1.7 times greater than that of wealthy men over the past decade. Women's share of the ultra wealthy population is set to rise from 12% to 19% by 2040.
• Donor priorities are shifting. Education remains the standout cause, with some 60% of the global wealthy donating to it at least once over the past decade. But the share giving to environmental causes was 26% higher in 2021–25 than in 2015–20. Healthcare and medical research posted a 15% increase in relative share.
• Ultra wealthy giving is becoming more strategic. At least 17% of the ultra wealthy have a private foundation. Donors are placing greater emphasis on transformational impact, due diligence, and succession planning.

These findings point to a philanthropic landscape that is growing in scale and changing in shape.

Private giving in a shifting funding landscape

Public funding and multilateral aid are in retreat in many countries, placing more importance than ever on giving by individuals and corporations. Yet private philanthropy cannot easily replace the scale and continuity of institutional aid.

This creates a demanding environment for fundraisers, charities, educational institutions and other nonprofits. At the same time, the expanding base of wealthy prospects offers considerable opportunities to make the most of individual giving.

Mapping fundraising opportunity by city

For fundraisers, the next question is where to focus. The Giving Opportunity Index scores each city on wealth, donor affinity and philanthropic infrastructure. Together, those scores give fundraisers a data-driven view of where to prioritize their efforts. New York, Seoul and Hong Kong lead the rankings, and eight US cities make the top 15. Outside the top 15, the five emerging market cities to watch are all in Asia. Beyond the traditional hubs, these emerging markets offer diverse opportunities for new donor engagement and relationship building.

"Wealthy donors are giving more, but the landscape around them is shifting fast," said Matt Thompson, Vice President of Nonprofit, Higher Education and Healthcare, Global at Altrata. "Public funding is pulling back, a new generation is coming into wealth, and opportunity is spreading to new markets. In that environment, securing share of wallet comes down to knowing your donors. The organizations that know their donors best and build relationships early will have the best chance to earn the gift."

Altrata's High Net Worth Philanthropy 2026 is an essential read for fundraisers, nonprofits, educational institutions, wealth managers and family offices. Its findings offer actionable insight into who the wealthy are, how they give, and where opportunity is growing.

Access the complete findings now.

About Altrata

Altrata is a definitive leader in global wealth intelligence, professional relationship mapping, and affluent market dynamics. The company's global dataset contains millions of individual profiles on the wealthy and well-connected senior decision makers, board members, and C-suite leaders. Leading financial services, commercial, philanthropic, and educational organizations depend on Altrata solutions to drive their growth objectives powered by our actionable, accurate, and comprehensive data maintained by a global team of in-house researchers committed to surfacing the right insight at the right time to drive positive business outcomes.

Altrata is a registered trademark of Delinian Limited and its affiliated companies.

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SOURCE Altrata Limited