Beth Breeze

Beth Breeze is a Professor of Philanthropic Studies and Director of the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent’s School of Social Sciences. She co-founded the Centre in 2008. Her career began as a fundraiser for a youth homelessness charity, evolving into academic research after completing a PhD at Kent in 2011. She has authored/co-authored seven books, including award-winning titles like Advising Philanthropists: Principles and Practice and The Fundraising Reader, and edited influential reports like the Coutts Million Pound Donors Report.

Her research focuses on philanthropy, fundraising strategies, major donors, and the intersection of philanthropy with social policy. Key projects include the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (2013–2016), examining fundraisers’ social skills, and the EU-funded study on philanthropy in universities. Breeze launched the MA in Philanthropic Studies at Kent, a distance-learning program.

Awarded the AFP Skystone Prize twice, she also holds a Leverhulme Fellowship. Breeze serves on international committees, including the Women’s Philanthropy Institute Research Committee (Indiana University). Her work bridges academic research with practical philanthropy, emphasizing ethical fundraising and the societal impact of private wealth.

Key achievements include pioneering Moonshot Philanthropy research, exploring private funding for global challenges, and advocating for gender equity in fundraising leadership roles. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates policy, sociology, and organizational behavior to advance understanding of modern philanthropy.