Geneva-based private bank Lombard Odier on Thursday released its report "The Next [Gen] Chapter of Philanthropy," drawing on a survey of 260 wealthy individuals with at least 1 million CHF in investable assets—65 respondents each from Switzerland, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Half of those surveyed were under 45. The data was collected by the CoreData Institute in January and February 2026, with Maximilian Martin, Lombard Odier's Global Head of Philanthropy, leading the project.
On motivation, little evidence emerged of a generational divide: 80% of respondents said younger and older donors share the same values and motives. The differences appear in execution. Younger donors cited measurable impact as a priority almost three times more often than their elders (19% versus 7%), and valued innovation more than twice as frequently (27% versus 13%).
Swiss respondents stood out for their consensus on measurability. It was not a youth-specific demand; 98% across both generations rated it important. An even stronger figure emerged on long-term project sustainability: 100% of Swiss participants deemed it important, and 82% saw generational unity in values—the second-highest score among the four markets.
Despite this alignment, respondents anticipated methodological shifts. Forty-nine percent expect future generations to carry forward the purposes of their predecessors, 40% foresee a shift in focus, and 31% anticipate new vehicles and instruments. Asked what would drive more philanthropy, Swiss respondents gave sober answers: better measurement and tracking tools (52%) and greater transparency (49%).
The findings carry direct implications for wealth managers. Fifty percent of Swiss respondents named the integration of philanthropy into family wealth strategy as the most urgently needed bank service—a top-ranked request across all surveyed concerns. The environment is favourable: more than 13,700 active charitable foundations in Switzerland manage over 100 billion CHF and distribute roughly 6 billion CHF annually. Meanwhile, 46% of Swiss respondents regularly discuss philanthropy within their families, the highest proportion among the four markets.
Underlying these findings is an uncomfortable trend. Global giving volumes are reaching record levels, yet the donor base is narrowing. "Philanthropy enters the second half of this decade with an unresolved contradiction," said Martin. "In sum, giving has never been larger, yet the base of those who give is thinning."
