Philanthropy strategy 2018 — 2023
This strategy has been prepared jointly by the City of London Corporation in pursuing its general corporate objectives and also as trustee of Bridge House Estates. City Bridge Trust is the charitable funding arm of Bridge House Estates and is the largest independent charitable funder in London.
Philanthropy: the giving of money, time, skills or assets
The City, and London in general, has a proud tradition of philanthropy, dating back to the Middle Ages, led by Livery Companies and the Mayoralty. However, at a time of retrenchment of public sector funding and growing inequality, there is a need to do more to inspire, support and amplify great philanthropy i.e. the giving of money, time, skills or assets.
City Bridge Trust and its Trustee, the City of London Corporation therefore jointly appointed a Philanthropy Director in 2017 to develop a cross cutting strategy for the Trust and the City Corporation.
This strategy was approved in the summer of 2018 and is focused on ensuring that individuals and communities, especially those experiencing marginalisation, thrive as a result of higher impact and higher value philanthropy. An implementation plan was approved in Spring 2019.