Government plans to make bankers' charitable donations public 1

Fundraising | Hannah Bewley | 24 Jan 2011

The government plans to "embarrass" banks and their staff into donating more to charities by producing a league table of bankers' donations, according to The Times.

The newspaper reported government sources believe compiling a league table of charitable donations from staff bonuses would encourage bankers to donate more to civil society organisations and indirectly encourage the public to take their business to more benevolent banks.

Individuals' names would not be included on the records but details of how much was given overall and what proportion of staff gave donations from their bonuses would be made available to the public.

Banks reacting to the suggestion claimed the move could breach privacy rules and potentially clash with the Human Rights Act. Many banks currently publish donations annually, but there are no figures relating to amounts made by individual members of staff.

The report comes as Goldman Sachs, the US investment bank, reduced its philanthropic donations by one third, even though members of staff are in line for bonuses totalling £10bn, and as the government prepares its white paper on giving.

Separate discussions between the UK's major banks aimed at improving the reputation of banks are also under way. “Project Merlin”, as the talks have been dubbed, will outline the banks' social investment aims and could involve a sizeable donation to the Big Society Bank, initially rumoured to total £1.5bn.

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Diana Mackie
Institute of Fundraising
25 Jan 2011

Is 'embarrassing' banks the way to stimulate philanthropy and encourage the Big Society? How about people giving their time and money freely to causes they really care about?

Producing a league table of bankers' donations is a radical departure from the general perception that people like to keep their charitable giving as a personal matter.

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