New book by incoming HMC Principal published

A new book by Professor Beth Breeze, who will succeed Professor Jane Shaw as Principal of Harris Manchester College on 1 October, has been published. Rich Expectations draws on new research to present a detailed picture of the contemporary philanthropic landscape, and is the third instalment in the Why Rich People Give research series, which charts two decades of change in philanthropy in the UK.

The book, which Professor Breeze co-authored with Rhodri Davies and Theresa Lloyd, analyses surveys and interviews conducted with 88 UK-based donors to explore how they interact with charities and societies and the expectations that shape how they give. It also covers the social, economic and technological developments that have impacted philanthropy over the past decade and analyses why and how rich people give, and to which causes. The research and practical insights in Why Rich People Give are aimed at fundraisers and donors alike, as well as all those with an interest in the role of philanthropy in contemporary society.

The volume draws on Professor Breeze’s pioneering background in the study of philanthropy: having worked as a fundraiser and charity manager for a decade, she completed a doctoral thesis on contemporary UK philanthropy before going on to co-found and direct the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent, where she also became the UK’s first ever Professor of Philanthropic Studies in 2023. She was awarded the OBE in the 2021 New Years Honours list for services to philanthropic research and fundraising. The Governing Body of HMC elected her as the next Principal of HMC in March this year.

Rich Expectations was published on 1 September 2025 and is on sale at bookshops and online retailers, as well as from the website of its publisher, the Directory of Social Change.