Citywealth Forum 2026 Speaker spotlight: Rennie Hoare, Partner and Head of Philanthropy at C. Hoare & Co.
Rennie Hoare focused on how philanthropy is moving into the mainstream of wealth planning, with donor-advised funds playing a central role. He highlighted the value of unrestricted funding, better use of charitable capital, and the importance of philanthropy as a way of deepening client relationships and understanding what matters to them.
Rennie Hoare set out a clear shift in how philanthropy is positioned within private client work.
Rather than sitting at the margins, it is now part of core conversations alongside succession and legacy planning.
Structures such as donor-advised funds and community foundations, already well established in the US, are becoming more relevant in the UK as advisers look for more efficient ways to support giving.
The rise of donor-advised funds
A central theme in his contribution was the growing importance of donor-advised funds.
These allow clients to organise their giving without the administrative burden of setting up and running their own charitable foundation.
He described them as an important piece of infrastructure—helping to simplify philanthropy while maintaining oversight and flexibility.
Structured giving: restricted vs unrestricted
Hoare also focused on how funding is delivered in practice.
He drew a clear distinction between restricted funding, tied to specific projects, and unrestricted funding, which gives charities the flexibility to allocate resources where they are most needed.
His point was direct: unrestricted funding is often more effective, even if it requires donors to build closer relationships with a smaller number of organisations.
Improving fundraising capability
He highlighted a wider capability gap across the sector.
Charities need to become more confident in engaging with major donors, understanding tax frameworks, and building long-term relationships.
There are lessons from the US in how philanthropy is embedded more systematically into financial advice and donor engagement.
Making better use of charitable capital
Another theme was how existing capital is used.
Only a small proportion of charitable assets are typically distributed each year, while most remain invested.
He suggested there is an opportunity to ensure those investments are aligned more closely with social and environmental outcomes, rather than sitting separately from a charity’s purpose.
Philanthropy as a relationship tool
For advisers, philanthropy is not an add-on.
It opens up more personal conversations with clients—what they care about, what they want their wealth to achieve, and how they see the world.
Those conversations can strengthen relationships and lead to broader advisory opportunities.
A changing advice landscape
He also placed philanthropy in the context of wider industry change.
As more technical services become commoditised, the value of human relationships becomes more important.
Philanthropy provides a way to access that layer—building trust and relevance beyond purely financial advice.
A more effective system
His overall message was practical.
The challenge is not the availability of capital, but how well it is structured, deployed and connected to real outcomes.
With the right tools and relationships, philanthropy can play a far more effective role in both client engagement and social impact.
About C. Hoare & Co.’s Donor-Advised Fund
C. Hoare & Co. formalised its approach to client philanthropy through the launch of the Master Charitable Trust in 2011.
This donor-advised fund allows clients to create their own named “Giving Fund” within a broader structure, avoiding the cost, complexity and administrative burden of setting up a standalone charity.
Clients can recommend grants to a wide range of causes in the UK and internationally, while the bank’s trustee company manages governance, compliance and reporting.
The model is designed to be flexible. Funds can be added over time, invested if required, and structured to involve family members or successors, making it a practical tool for long-term giving and legacy planning.
More broadly, the Master Charitable Trust reflects the bank’s approach of embedding philanthropy into client relationships: supporting generosity while removing many of the barriers that can otherwise slow it down.
Key Quotes
“There are two ways grants can be given… restricted and unrestricted.”
“Unrestricted means you are allowing the charity to allocate it as they see fit.”
“If you had one pound of restricted funding, charities would replace it with fifty pence of unrestricted funding.”
“You’re giving ownership to the CEO to make those decisions with unrestricted funds.”
“There’s a massive opportunity if we can embed phhilanthropy into wealth planning.”
“Philanthropy opens deeper, more personal client conversations.”
“What allows us to rise above a commoditised service with the relationship.”
“If you’re not including philanthropy, you’re missing a way to understand how people see the world.”
Key Takeaways
- Rennie Hoare discusses how philanthropy is becoming a key part of wealth planning, with donor-advised funds central to this shift.
- Donor-advised funds simplify charitable giving, allowing clients to manage their donations without the hassle of a foundation.
- Unrestricted funding proves more effective, enabling charities to allocate resources as needed, while building closer donor relationships.
- Philanthropy fosters deeper client conversations, enhancing trust and relevance beyond simple financial advice.
- C. Hoare & Co.’s Master Charitable Trust offers a flexible donor-advised fund, helping clients support various causes without needing a standalone charity.
- The panel included the following speakers:
- 16:00 – 16:45 | Panel 7: The business of philanthropy
- Impact-driven, data-backed giving. The United States alone accounts for about 40-50% of global philanthropic giving, with around $450 billion+ annually. Total global philanthropic giving is roughly $700 billion to $1 trillion. We investigate the latest gold standard practices in the business of giving.
- Moderator:
- Matthew Briggs, Partner at Boyes Turner
- Speakers:
- Anna Josse, CEO and Co-Founder at Prism the Gift Fund
- Anna Tylor, Chairwoman of the RNIB
- Rennie Hoare, Head of Philanthropy at C. Hoare & Co.
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Citywealth Forum 2026 Speaker spotlight: Joshua Rubenstein, Katten
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Citywealth Forum USA – March 10th 2027 proposed date
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