Wealth for impact
Nina Hoas and Silvia Bastante de Unverhau from LGT Philanthropy Advisory discuss their research paper analysing giving and impact strategies among the next generation of wealth holders
Monday, 17 March 2025
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With the world on the brink of an unprecedented transfer of wealth, all eyes are on the next generation, whose actions are set to re-shape financial landscapes as well as wider society.
In a bid to gain a deeper understanding of how Next-Gens plan to spend their money, LGT Philanthropy Advisory, part of the LGT Group (owned by the Princely Family of Liechtenstein), carried out a deep-dive study interviewing more than 60 individuals from 30 different countries, aged between 18 to 77.
Two of the study authors, Nina Hoas and Silvia Bastante de Unverhau, joined Anissa Punjani on the Shaping Philanthropy podcast to discuss their findings.
“We noticed that people are really taking different approaches when it comes to having a positive impact,” explained Hoas. “It's no longer just giving; it's much more of a blurred line between philanthropy, venture philanthropy, social entrepreneurship engagement or social finance impact investing.”
The report begins with an examination of how the interviewees perceive privilege, responsibility, and personal values, then explores how wealth is created, invested, spent, given, and transferred.
“We wanted to provide a platform for individuals and the next generations to actually have those conversations and to inspire them on what are people doing in this,” said Hoas.
“We noticed that people are really taking different approaches when it comes to having a positive impact... It's no longer just giving."
Nina Hoas, LGT Philanthropy Advisory
Nina Hoas (left) head of LGT Philanthropy Advisory, with Shaping Philanthropy host, Anissa Punjani. Photo: Osama Bhatti.
During the conversation, our host also shared her own views of how Next-Gens from this region are reshaping their giving and becoming more open about their intentions.
Discussing the philanthropy and impact investing chapters, Hoas and Bastante de Unverhau explained how the study analysed wealth holders’ motivations, models, and approaches and underscores the importance of clear values and goals.
Bastante de Unverhau said they were very “excited about the potential” for this next generation of wealth holders to “have a very significant impact in the space of strategic philanthropy”.
She added that the study had confirmed her thesis that the next generations of wealth holders take a more holistic view of wealth. They integrate between what it means to create, invest, spend, give and transfer wealth with underlying values,” she said.
The report features a number of personal case studies including: Mexican philanthropist and co-founder of The Beam Network, Ana Morales; Elizabeth Sheehan, the founder of The Valerian Fund; Nadja Swarovski, who established the Swarovski Foundation; Hassan Kassam, a Dubai-based tech investor, with a family foundation in Pakistan; Peggy Dulany Rockefeller, founder and chair of Synergos; andTobias Merckle, the founder of Hoffnungsträger Stiftung, which works on behalf of refugees and asylum-seekers applying for protection in Germany.
You can download a copy of LGT's report Wealth for impact: global perspectives from the next generations of wealth holders here.
