Development grants and investments by the largest private philanthropic foundations exceed the official development assistance (ODA) of many of the largest donor countries. As a group, around 32 private philanthropies reported to the OECD providing USD 11.7 billion in support of development in 2023. While this represents a highly valuable resource for development, it equates to only 5% of total ODA from Development Assistance Committee (DAC) countries in 2023 (USD 221 billion).
Philanthropy
Private philanthropic foundations play an increasingly important role in development. Although philanthropic funding cannot match official aid flows in volume terms, it can be more flexible, innovative, and disruptive than funding from other sources. The OECD sheds light on its contribution with detailed statistics and policy analysis and helps philanthropic foundations to network and learn from one another.
Key messages
Although private philanthropy has been growing over the last decades, development grants and programme-related investments by international private foundations have been stagnant since their historical peak in 2021.
In emerging economies like India or China, philanthropy from domestic donors surpasses the financing received by international foundations. Domestic donors tend to focus on education, in particular higher education. Most philanthropic funding tends to be concentrated in a few regions, often those with the highest regional gross domestic product.
Context
Private development finance by private philanthropic provider
Private development finance allocations differ significantly across philanthropic providers, reflecting varying priorities and capacities. Understanding these differences helps benchmark foundations’ commitments and efforts in delivering support for partner countries. The development co-operation profiles present detailed policies and financing by provider.
Private philanthropy is a major supporter of health, population policies, and reproductive health in developing countries
Private philanthropic foundations are among the top 3 providers of development finance for health and population policies. They play a key role eradicating infectious diseases and improving access to reproductive rights.
In 2024, more than half of international philanthropic contributions targeted health. Of these, 46% targeted health in general, while 12% targeted population needs and reproductive health.
In China, India and Mexico, domestic philanthropy surpasses international philanthropic flows
In emerging economies that receive significant cross-border financing such as India, China, and Mexico, domestic philanthropic financing has already surpassed the flows of cross-border philanthropy. Locally based donors in China contributed USD 2.5 billion out of USD 2.9 billion, while in Mexico USD 1 billion out of USD 1.2 billion was funded by domestic foundations.
Related data
Private philanthropic providers
- A - C
- D - I
- J - M
- N - R
- S - T
- U - Z
