Seeing is believing - how do high-net-worth philanthropists utilise evidence to inform their giving?

Greenhalgh, Caroline A ORCID: 0000-0002-0096-1050 (2024). Seeing is believing - how do high-net-worth philanthropists utilise evidence to inform their giving? University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Background: This thesis examines if and how high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth philanthropists utilise evidence to inform their funding decisions. It addresses a gap in the extant literature, which largely focuses on philanthropists' motives, highlighting the need for specific research on evidence use in philanthropy.

Objectives: The primary objective of this research was to investigate how philanthropists engage with evidence, how they perceive evidence, their conception of evidence quality, and the extent to which evidence informs their funding decisions. This research also explored other factors influencing philanthropic decision-making and how philanthropists measured the success of their funding.

Methods: The thesis included a systematic review and primary qualitative research. The systematic review utilised a pre-published protocol and adhered to PRISMA and GRADE-CERqual guidelines to examine the factors influencing evidence use by philanthropists. The primary research was informed by the systematic review findings and utilised semi-structured interviews with high and ultra-high-net-worth donors to gain detailed insights into participants’ giving strategies, their perceptions of evidence, how they measured success in their giving and other factors that influenced their decision-making process.

Results: The research revealed the relationship between philanthropists and evidence to be complex and multifaceted. Key findings indicated that philanthropists rarely employed an exclusively evidence-based approach; instead, they sought out or relied more upon the endorsement of trusted peers and their instincts before engaging with evidence. The study highlights the need for increased transparency and for systematic, collaborative efforts to augment trust and promote evidence-informed philanthropic decision making.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that while philanthropists said they value evidence, their engagement with it was nuanced and shaped by numerous considerations. There is an imperative for strategies to be implemented that enhance the accessibility and relevance of evidence for philanthropists, fostering more informed and impactful philanthropic practices.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):