Ultra wealthy giving surges globally as Canadian advisors eye philanthropy opportunity
North America remains the dominant centre of UHNW giving, accounting for approximately 46 per cent of global donations in 2025, with the US alone contributing $107 billion of that total. Canada’s wealthy donors form part of that regional picture, underpinned by a tradition of private giving and a sophisticated network of philanthropic vehicles including private foundations, donor-advised funds (DAFs), and charitable trusts.
The overall number of Canadians donating to charity has been declining for several years, placing the burden of giving increasingly on high net worth and ultra-high-net-worth families, a trend that is well-documented in the Canadian market. As Danielle Robinson, National Director of Philanthropic Advisory Services at BMO Private Wealth in Toronto, has noted, those who are giving are giving more, reflecting a shift towards larger donations from fewer donors and those donors increasingly expect their financial advisors to be active participants in structuring that giving.
A planning gap advisors can close
The Altrata data points to structural forces that are expanding the pool of philanthropic capital available to Canadian wealth managers. UHNW giving grew at a compound annual rate of 7.3 per cent between 2018 and 2025, outpacing both non-UHNW individual giving (4.6 per cent) and foundation giving (6.0 per cent) over the same period, according to the report.
At the same time, the strategic sophistication of that giving is rising. At least 17 per cent of the global UHNW population hold either a private individual or family foundation, with the share higher still in North America. Donor-advised funds are growing rapidly as a complement to those structures, offering administrative simplicity and immediate tax efficiency for clients who want flexibility without the governance requirements of a private foundation.
A 2026 survey by Canadian Family Offices found that nearly one in three high net worth donors and advisors planned to increase their use of DAFs in 2026, consistent with a broader global trend toward more formalised giving structures.
