In this episode of the Philanthropisms podcast we offer thoughts on the trends and topics that are going to shape philanthropy and civil society in 2026.
Including:
Philanthropy & Charities
- Ongoing political challenges for US philanthropy (more attacks on the legitimacy of foundations; will Trump weaponise the IRS?)
- More billion-dollar gifts; more donors signalling intent (e.g. by joining the Giving Pledge); the emergence of some new big-money philanthropists (including some high-profile women?)
- How will global civil society adapt to a new normal post-USAID?
- Will Asia start to shape global philanthropy?
- As the “impact economy” reframing takes hold in the UK, where will philanthropy fit in?
- Will the further rise of populism and the far right in UK lead to more attacks on charities and foundations?
- Renewed focus on locality/place as a lens for philanthropy?
Societal Trends
- Will the growing desire for comfort/de-stressing and the emphasis on individual solutions contribute to the erosion of associational life? Do CSOs need to make the case for collective forms of wellbeing?
- Will growing demands for authenticity require CSOs to take stronger lines on issues, and to accord with supporters views and values?
- As people increasingly look to individuals as sources of authority, will CSOs need to find ways of partnering with influencers?
- Will demand for offline experiences and connection provide opportunities for volunteering and participation?
- As concerns about declining population growth enter the mainstream, what impact will this have on philanthropy and civil society?
Technology:
- As platform philanthropy continues to grow, will we start to see the “enshittification of giving”?
- How can charities navigate the challenges of AI slop and misinformation?
- Will we see further ethical questions about CSOs use of GenAI?
- As search shifts towards GenA, will charities need to adapt to a new normal in which no-one visits their websites anymore?
- Is 2026 the year that some technologies we’ve been talking about for a long time become mainstream? (E.g. autonomous vehicles, smart home appliances, AR/VR/Smart glasses?)
- Is 2026 the year of Quantum technology? (And what implications will this have for philanthropy and civil society?)
Further Resources:
- WPM articles on Peter Thiel and Elon Musk
- WPM guide to quantum technology and philanthropy & civil society
- Philanthropisms podcast episodes on populism and AI
- Euromonitor’s 2026 Global Consumer Trends report
- Nieman Labs 2026 Predictions for Journalism
