About

Philanthropy North East is a research and information website supported by the Newcastle Centre for Research on Entrepreneurship, Wealth and Philanthropy (REWP) and the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, the lead partners of the GeNErosity Festival that celebrated 900 years of philanthropy in the North East of England in November 2018. The site is hosted by Newcastle University. 

The research presented on Philanthropy North East, which inspired the GeNErosity Festival, is the work of Professor Charles Harvey, Professor Mairi Maclean, Dr Michael Price and Miss Vesela Harizanova, supported by Mr Victor Harlow and other REWP colleagues.

Our project surveys the history of philanthropy in the North East of England over a period of more than 900 years, from the time the North East was brought under Norman control (thirty years or so after the Conquest of 1066) down to the present. Our purpose is to paint a broad picture of the role philanthropy has played in the region across the ages, and in doing so to draw significant lessons for the present.

On this website, you can find a large and growing number of profiles of notable philanthropists, beneficiaries of philanthropy, and philanthropic trusts and foundations that have all played a part in the development of the region’s philanthropic heritage. You can also access a series of research papers which provide a comprehensive overview of our research and the evolving philanthropic landscape in North East England.

The research team welcomes feedback and ideas for future development.