Citywealth Leaders List, 60 seconds interview – Joe Crome, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
This week’s 60-second Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to Joe Crome, Head of Business Development and CAF American Donor Fund at Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) and shortlisted in the Citywealth Magic Circle Awards 2026 ‘Philanthropy Advisor of the Year’. Crome is also on the Citywealth Top philanthropy advisor list
Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.
I joined CAF in 2020 to lead the CAF American Donor Fund. My role as Head of CAF American Donor Fund includes having the privilege of working with clients and their families who are dual tax payers in the US/UK to support their philanthropy, as well as having responsibility for leading the growth and strategy of the CAF American Donor Fund, which generates over £140m per year in charitable contributions. I hold the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation from the American College of Financial Services. I also lead CAF’s Business Development to help grow our private client and corporate giving products.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I spend a lot of time working with fellow private wealth colleagues to discuss philanthropic opportunities for their clients, including advising on complex non-cash gifts, so you can often find me at the offices of a professional services firm giving a presentation. I also work directly with clients so on any given day I may be discussing charitable causes or types of gifts they wish to make. I attend many events to make sure that I am acting as an ambassador for CAF and philanthropic issues across the private client industry and enjoy initiating those conversations with colleagues.
Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.
We have just recently handled a gift property in Cambridge, we auctioned a sculpture by a renowned artist, and just a few months ago facilitated a gift of 6 pieces to the Courtauld Gallery. Each case is different and will help our clients achieve their philanthropic goals, and our role is to work with clients and their advisers to navigate the complex regulatory rules and help them to realise their charitable ambitions.
What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?
In the past year, navigating the non-dom tax regime changes has been a big topic of conversation with clients, as we support them to ensure that their giving can be impactful but also tax efficient, which involves working with advisors to discuss the types of gifts and the timing of those gifts to ensure they can best achieve their desired impact. We’re also currently seeing significant flows of philanthropic capital from the US to the UK and other jurisdictions as individuals and foundations seek to spread risk and diversify the location of assets.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
Early in my career I was a youth worker, and helping one of the young people I mentored become the first person in his family or friends to attend and graduate university is my proudest achievement – it made me realise the impact my actions can have on others. At CAF, we recently reached $1.5billion in donations to the American Donor Fund, which is a huge figure to achieve since launching in 1999 and I am very proud of the service we provide for our clients.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
Be real and be yourself. Empower and build a team that you trust to deliver on their potential and the goals of your team. Also, be kind!
Who do you most admire and why?
I would say my father-in-law. He has overcome challenges and built a successful business in the United States from scratch, working incredibly hard, travelling and doing what it takes to operate a successful enterprise, which often involves doing every part of the job no matter how big or small. It has instilled a work ethic in his children and shown them how to deal with people the right way.
Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?
I travelled to Atlanta and Lisbon in September, and I will be in the US for Thanksgiving shortly!
If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?
Ideally (yet unlikely) playing a sport professionally! But more realistically, probably something involving public service or preserving the environment.
How do you relax after a long day?
I spend time with my beautiful wife and my amazing 9 year old twin girls, and our cat! I also love to run and to read (I am currently buried in Jack Reacher books).
Joe Crome’s Citywealth Leaders List profile
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)’s Citywealth Leaders List profile
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Read more:
Magic Circle – Online Voting | Citywealth
Key Takeaways
- Joe Crome leads the CAF American Donor Fund, supporting US/UK dual taxpayers in their philanthropy.
- A typical day involves advising clients on charitable gifts and representing CAF at events.
- Recent notable projects include auctioning a sculpture and managing significant property gifts, helping clients navigate complexities.
- Clients face challenges with non-dom tax regulations, which Crome assists them in addressing for impactful giving.
- Crome values authenticity in leadership and admires his father-in-law for his work ethic and success.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
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