A new Philanthropy Policy takes shape
“It is more difficult to give money away intelligently than it is to earn it in the first place.” Andrew Carnegie
It’s a provocative thought, but one that raises an important question for Jersey: how can we make sure that the generosity already flowing across our Island makes the greatest possible difference?
Jersey has a strong tradition of giving. People donate money, give their time, share their skills and expertise, and support causes that matter to them.
We also have many of the ingredients needed for a strong philanthropic community: a thriving charitable sector, significant private wealth, an internationally recognised finance industry and trusted institutions.
What is philanthropy?
We often use the words charity and philanthropy interchangeably, but there is a difference.
Charitable giving is about supporting a good cause, making a donation, fundraising for a charity or giving your time as a volunteer.
Philanthropy can be broader. It is about using resources, whether that’s money, time, expertise, knowledge or networks to create positive change. It can involve looking at where support is most needed, bringing people and organisations together, and thinking about the difference that investment can make.
In other words, charitable giving is an important part of philanthropy, but philanthropy is about more than simply giving.
So why are we developing a Philanthropy Policy?
In autumn 2025, the Government of Jersey endorsed the development of the Island’s first Philanthropy Policy, with Jersey Community Foundation leading the work in partnership with Government and a wide range of stakeholders.
The aim is not to create more charities or more fundraising campaigns. It is to develop a long-term framework that helps philanthropy have the greatest possible impact for Islanders, better aligning philanthropy with need, strengthening the charitable sector, making giving easier and enhancing Jersey’s international philanthropy proposition.
Importantly, the policy is being shaped through research, engagement and consultation. The work so far has been about listening, understanding what is already happening in Jersey and looking at where there are opportunities to do things better.
In July, representatives from Government, charities, philanthropy, finance, business and community organisations came together to explore what the policy could look like.
Paul Wylie, Chief Executive of the Government of Jersey, made the case for a closer and more stable partnership between Government and the charitable sector, including finding ways to provide charities with more stable funding. He highlighted the importance of the sector at a time when Jersey’s population is ageing, demand for care and other services is rising, and the public sector cannot continue to expand indefinitely.
Charities have an important role to play in responding to changing community needs, and philanthropy can help provide additional resources, ideas and capacity.
There is another important part of the picture: Jersey is an international finance centre, with significant wealth and expertise already on the Island.
Tom Le Feuvre, Director of External Relations, for GoJ, pointed out that these are strengths that other jurisdictions would find difficult to create. For Jersey, the opportunity is not to start from scratch, but to build on what we already have and think about how our financial expertise, wealth and existing culture of giving can work together to support philanthropy.
Put those things together, changing community needs, a strong charitable sector, private wealth and financial expertise and Jersey has a real opportunity to think differently about what philanthropy could contribute to the Island.
Jersey is part of a bigger conversation
We are not the only place thinking about how to create the right environment for philanthropy.
Australia, for example, has set a government goal of doubling philanthropic giving by 2030. It commissioned a major review into how this can be achieved, making recommendations which include improving regulation, information and access to philanthropic networks.
Jersey doesn’t need to copy another country’s approach. However, it's useful to look at what others are doing. Governments, charities and philanthropic organisations in a number of countries are asking similar questions about how to make giving more effective and how to create greater impact.
Jersey now has the opportunity to develop its own answer.
What could this look like in practice?
The discussions in July explored some of the practical ways Jersey could strengthen its approach to philanthropy from making it easier to give, to improving understanding of local need and finding better ways for Government, charities, businesses and philanthropists to work together.
For Charlmaine Vella, an experienced philanthropist and Board member of various Jersey registered charities since 2012, one important part of the conversation is about recognising that philanthropy can bring much more than financial support.
Drawing on her Master’s research with wealthy Jersey families, Charlmaine highlighted the experience, knowledge and philanthropic expertise that people living in or moving to Jersey can bring, alongside their financial resources. She also pointed to the importance of making Jersey’s local needs more visible to potential donors.
Her message was simple: “see beyond the cheque.”
The discussions also highlighted the importance of making giving easier. Ideas included encouraging more legacy giving, helping professional advisers have better conversations with clients about philanthropy, recognising everyday giving and finding ways to make local need clearer to those who want to support their community.
There was also a strong appetite for Government, charities, businesses and philanthropists to work more closely together around shared priorities, rather than working in isolation.
And if philanthropy is to have a greater role, there is an equally important question: how do we know it is making a difference?
Alan Le Maistre, CEO of the National Trust for Jersey, made the case for a more consistent approach to measuring impact. The aim, he said, should not simply be to create more reporting for charities, but to develop a shared language that helps charities, funders and Government understand what is working and where more can be done.
As Alan put it: “Impact measurement isn’t about proving our worth, it’s about improving it.”
None of these ideas are set in stone.
The Visioning Workshop was not about producing a finished policy. It was about bringing different perspectives into the room, identifying opportunities and beginning to shape a shared vision.
Now we want to hear from you
The next stage is to take that conversation beyond the workshop.
The ideas gathered are being incorporated into the draft Philanthropy Policy, and we are now asking Islanders to help shape it through a wider public consultation.
This is an opportunity for Islanders to have their say, whether you work for a charity, run a business, advise clients, work with philanthropists or foundations, give your time or money to causes you care about, or simply have a view on what Jersey needs in the future.
We already have a great deal to build on. The challenge is to bring those strengths together, learn from what is happening elsewhere and develop an approach that works for Jersey.
The completed Philanthropy Policy is expected to be published in early 2027.
Jersey has the generosity. Now we have an opportunity to make it go further.
The survey is launching Monday 28 September
https://forms.derros.com/jersey-philanthropy-2026