Russia: Private sources fund up to 85.5% of the non-profit sector
Up to 420,000 individuals in the Russian Federation hold assets worth tens of millions of roubles
27.05.2026
Article published on the miloserdie.ru website
Private sources fund up to 85.5% of the non-profit sector, according to a survey conducted by the Potanin Foundation.
These figures are highlighted in a Philanthropist 2026 study carried out by the Potanin Foundation in collaboration with the SKOLKOVO School of Management, the results of which were presented at the Blagosfera Centre.
“In addition to donations and other forms of support for CSOs, more than half of respondents provided direct assistance to those in need. Sometimes, this involves financial aid, payment for certain services and mentoring”, said Veronika Misyutina, Head of Social Investment and Philanthropy at SKOLKOVO.
Private sources fund 85.5% of the non-profit sector, although the growth in donations is flatlining. Only 9% of respondents consider charity to be a key factor in terms of sustainable development, says the research.
According to various figures, there are between 45,000 and 426,000 high-net-worth individuals (with assets of 60 million roubles or more) and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (billionaires) in Russia. The study emphasises that it is important not to confuse wealth with income. The main source of income for the wealthy is not salary, but profits from business and investments.
A third of wealthy individuals (22% in 2018) already have, or would like to have, a social engagement specialist, with the services most in demand including project clubs, philanthropist databases and training in social engagement.
The study was prompted by information presented in the World Giving Report (2015), which revealed that residents from low-income countries donate 1.45% of their income to charity, compared to 0.7% in affluent States. This led the researchers to wonder what has changed in the distribution of social responsibility.
Global statistics show that if the top 1% of the world’s wealthiest families were to donate 10% of their annual income to charitable causes, it would increase yearly charity spending by $3.5 trillion.
Turning to Russia, the study states that “If we were to apply a modest 1% to financial assets managed by Russian banks alone (in the premium sector estimated at 13.1 to 17.5 trillion roubles), the amount donated by rich individuals could range from between 131 to 175 billion roubles. And, calculating a “tithe” based on a hypothetical annual return yield of 5%, annual donations of between 65.5 and 87.5 billion roubles, excluding taxes”.
