Wealthy US philanthropists are quietly transferring hundreds of millions of dollars into UK-based charitable entities in response to signals from the White House that certain American non-profits may face intensified scrutiny. One adviser told the Financial Times that clients had set up British charities or sibling structures on the order of two-hundred million dollars.

The shift follows renewed pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration on organisations engaged in “diversity, equity and climate” work — and concerns that tax-exempt status or foreign giving rules might be altered. Wealth managers and legal advisers say Britain has become a preferred haven because of its shared language, compatible legal framework, banking links and stable regulatory environment.

UK charity regulator data show that more than two hundred US-origin non-profits applied for UK charity status after April 2025, underscoring the speed and scale of the movement. The American Donor Fund saw its assets grow from £38.5 million (around forty-seven million dollars) in ­2015-16 to nearly £140 million by 2024-25.

Existing donors remark that while giving to UK charities has long been part of their strategy, the scale and speed of transfers since Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025 are unprecedented. Some talk openly of “risk-mitigation” or “plan B” structures.

Legal and tax advisers caution that such cross-border giving is complex, and regulators in both the US and UK may increase monitoring. The US Treasury Secretary recently warned that the government will ‘‘follow the money’’ to track funds from American charities to foreign entities.

For now, donor sentiment reflects a heightened level of uncertainty about the US non-profit environment. As one philanthropist told advisers: ‘‘Better to establish a UK vehicle than await policy changes in Washington.’’