Alleviating Global Poverty Is a Top Concern of Wealthy Donors, Says Study

The world’s wealthiest philanthropists say the main goal of their giving is to alleviate global poverty, and the best way to do that, they say, is through greater collaboration between charities and other organizations, according to a study released today.

Of the richest people in the survey—those with $50-million or more in investable assets—40 percent said they focus their philanthropy on global issues.

Among the findings:

• Nearly three-quarters of donors said they seek to influence international and government policy to make it easier to fight poverty.

• Forty-eight percent say there are too many nonprofits with overlapping goals.

• Twenty-nine percent said they direct their donations to international groups, and another 29 percent said they give to both local and international charities.

The study surveyed 317 individuals from around the world who hold investible assets of $1-million or more. The report was produced by Forbes Insights, the research arm of Forbes Media, and the financial services corporation Credit Suisse.

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