Our research adopted an interpretivist approach which encourages exploration, theory generation and the collection of rich qualitative data about individual entrepreneur’s journey towards, engagement in and commitment to philanthropy. Supporting this we used life story and narrative analysis (Bal, 1985; Czarniawska, 1998; Denzin 1989). The research had a number of key phases: 1. Develop a comprehensive database of secondary information regarding high net worth UK entrepreneurs engaged in philanthropy 2008-11. 2. Collect detailed data regarding all aspects of their entrepreneurial capital, wealth accumulation and wealth redistribution. 3. Analysis of data to explore patterns, clusters, similarities, differences and outliers in entrepreneurial philanthropy in the UK. 4. Interview a sample of these UK entrepreneurial philanthropists and undertake life story interviewing with them. 5. Develop case studies of UK entrepreneurial philanthropists 6. Undertake comparative research by interviewing counterparts in India and Australia. This research formed part of the UK-wide Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy. This spoke explored individual and business giving, particularly entrepreneurial philanthropists: wealthy entrepreneurs who engage in giving away their money in a planned, targeted manner. This focus was shaped by a number of factors: philanthropic giving within the UK is significantly lower than in other developed economies, particularly North America which benefits from a strong culture of philanthropy which many wealthy individuals regard as an important civic duty faced with reduced government spending and increasingly neo-liberal policies, the UK Government is keen to acquire evidence to inform policy development in the area of philanthropic and charitable giving research indicates that charitable giving is boosted by the large sums gifted by wealthy individuals, many of whom are entrepreneurs. The aim was to engage in cross-national, comparative research to explore the importance and impact of differences in cultural, religious, institutional, socio-economic and historical settings on contemporary entrepreneurial philanthropy. To address this, an exploratory approach involving a mix of methods was used to collect and analyse data. Findings provide fresh insights into entrepreneur’s journey towards, engagement in and commitment to philanthropy and contribute to emerging critical considerations of entrepreneurship as a wealth maximising activity.

A mix of methods were employed at each stage of the research. Initially we constructed a detailed database of 100 wealthy UK entrepreneurs involved in series philanthropy, i.e. by 2007 they had to have distributed a minimum of £1mn of their personal wealth. At later stages we used life story and in-depth interviewing with philanthropists, their wealth adviser, CEOs of charitable foundations and other experts in the field of philanthropy.