Impact is no longer niche

This is the first in a series of blogs exploring some of the discussions and ideas from the 2026 Beacon Philanthropy and Impact Forum and how to drive them forward in order to grow and accelerate impact in the UK. 

This year’s Beacon Philanthropy and Impact Forum was more than double the size of previous years with over 600 attendees. But the increase in scale didn’t dilute the depth of discussion – if anything, it strengthened it. There was more input, more ideas and more energy. 

Philanthropists, investors, wealth advisers, business leaders, charity leaders and policymakers came together with shared purpose – how can we create the most positive impact for the UK and beyond and generate more impact-led finance for positive change for our communities. 

In his introductory remarks, James Goad of Forum event partner Owen James noted that the original aim of the Forum when it began was how to unlock £1bn of additional giving in the UK – a target that has long been smashed with the latest number recorded as a total of £11bn. But while we still want the pot to grow in order to deal with challenges facing the UK – the sector has matured and we want to focus on how best to collaborate and focus on giving well, he added. 

The palpable energy in the Guildhall’s halls and vaults reflected the growing momentum behind using private and public capital for public good. If ever there was a moment when it felt like impact moved from the margins to the mainstream, this was it.  

‘We may have different views, different priorities, different jobs, different strategies –  but our intentions are the same. The room is full of people wanting to make a difference’, said NPC Chief Executive Jonathan Simmons. 

Why now? 

This year’s Forum often referenced this critical shift. As keynote speakers emphasised, clear change, momentum and government engagement has been building over the last three years.  

With the establishment of the Office for the Impact Economy in the Cabinet Office, we now stand at a turning point where the impact economy has stepped into the rooms where decisions are made, said Heather Davenport from the Office for Investment who called the change ‘seismic’. 

‘The depth of engagement with the impact economy is something I haven’t seen previously working in government’, she told attendees at the Impact Economy Collective workshop. 

Keynote speaker Rt Hon Darren Jones MP said supporting the impact economy and philanthropy was ‘a personal priority’. 

‘We want to make it easier for you to change people’s lives’, he said. 

So the question is: how to maximise this access and momentum? 

‘A prosperous UK is impossible without prosperous communities.’ 

From the roundtables, workshops and debates, emerged some clear themes and key ingredients that attendees thought were needed for achieving greater impact. 

Community is key: The impact economy isn’t just for “nice” things or doing “good.” It includes jobs and tangible economic benefits for communities across the UK. 

Politicians, philanthropists and charity leaders all agreed that community must be at the heart of change. Investing in people and places was key to a successful Britain but that any initiatives must be led and co-designed by the people, businesses and organisations of that community. Dame Caroline Mason CBE of Esmee Fairbairn Foundation put it clearly: ‘The money should be shaped to the need of the community, not the other way round.’ 

While it is important to get the ‘plumbing’ – i.e. technical infrastructure – right to support the impact economy, we mustn’t lose sight that real change is drive by people in places, said Cath Dovey OBE in her closing remarks. 

The power of genuine partnership: ‘When we prioritise genuine connection, boundaries start to become highways’, added Cath.  

And we need to move beyond the ‘lunch, launch and logo’ approach (possibly the best quote of the day – thank you Dame Julia Cleverdon OBE) to partnerships and collaboration that sustains beyond funding and political cycles.  

Charities were clear that they need to be involved in discussions and have their expertise included much earlier – they don’t just want to be seen as a delivery partner. 

Story telling and celebration 

Across the discussions it was said multiple times that we must keep telling the story – celebrating the wins, showing the joy and transformation that collaboration can bring, and sharing the startling results that emerge when we work together. 

Jonathan Simmons put it another way: ‘We need to make more noise. More noise will attract more talent and more outcomes.’ 

Chairing a panel discussion on philanthropy, Juliet Agnew, Head of Philanthropy at Barclays, described the Forum as ‘a moment of collective promise’ at a time when the interest in more and better philanthropy is higher than ever before. 

Collective generosity is growing, she said. 

But philanthropists should keep sharing their stories and expertise to encourage others – to show what is possible. 

‘You can achieve a lot with a relatively small amount of money’, said Ben Goldsmith. 

‘How many zeros do you need?’ said Alexandra Chapman of The Reed Foundation. ‘Get out there and do some good.’ 

What was your story from the Forum? Who did you speak to? What did you take away from it?

We’d love to hear your take.