Our Philanthropy Advisory service helps families and their advisors transform values into strategic and accountable giving frameworks.
We advise on all aspects of philanthropy — from establishing charitable foundations or donor-advised funds, to verifying recipient organisations, supervising funded projects, and reporting outcomes to donors.
By combining legal rigour with on-the-ground supervision, our team ensures that every charitable contribution is compliant, effective, and aligned with the client’s legacy objectives.
Working closely with our Family Office, Tax, and Immigration practices, we deliver a holistic service that unites wealth stewardship, purpose, and global citizenship.
Legal, governance, and verification advisory for high-net-worth families and family offices structuring purpose-driven giving in Malta and internationally.
Understanding Strategic Giving
For UHNW families, philanthropy is an extension of family governance and legacy. It requires structure, due diligence, and independent supervision to achieve long-term results.
We help clients transform philanthropic intent into well-governed frameworks that reflect their values, ensure transparency, and generate meaningful social impact.
Why Malta for Family Offices, Philanthropy, and Impact Giving
Malta has become a leading jurisdiction for family offices establishing philanthropic vehicles due to its strong legal infrastructure, reputation for regulatory integrity, and integration within the European Union.
Family offices value Malta for its combination of trustworthy governance, tax efficiency, and international recognition — essential factors when managing global philanthropy programmes or establishing family foundations.
Key advantages include:
- Stable and EU-Aligned Legal Framework: Foundations and voluntary organisations are regulated under the Civil Code (Chapter 16) and Voluntary Organisations Act (Chapter 492), ensuring compliance and transparency.
- Recognition and Oversight: The Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations (CVO) supervises all registered entities, offering assurance to donors and regulators.
- Attractive for Family Office Structures: Malta allows dual-purpose foundations—charitable and private—enabling families to combine wealth succession, governance, and philanthropy within a single, flexible structure.
- Favourable Tax Environment: Philanthropic entities benefit from tax exemptions and reduced administrative burdens when operated in line with Maltese regulations.
- Cross-Border Accessibility: Malta’s EU membership ensures mutual recognition of charitable entities across member states, simplifying cross-border giving and project collaboration.
- Trusted Professional Ecosystem: Family offices benefit from proximity to experienced legal, fiduciary, and financial professionals, creating an integrated service environment for both wealth management and impact initiatives.
By combining regulatory credibility with family governance expertise, Malta offers a secure base for families seeking to professionalise their philanthropy, ensure compliance, and deliver measurable, transparent impact.
Our Philanthropy Advisory Expertise
We provide comprehensive support across every stage of a philanthropic engagement:
- Structuring and registration of foundations, trusts, and donor-advised funds
- Drafting governance instruments and donor policies
- Verification and due diligence of Maltese and international charities
- Supervision and reporting on the use of funds and project outcomes
- Cross-border philanthropy and tax advisory
- ESG and impact measurement frameworks
- Philanthropy linked to citizenship-by-merit and residence programmes
- Coordination with voluntary organisations on governance and best practices
Our Approach to Structured Giving
Our methodology combines legal rigour, governance expertise, and practical supervision.
We:
- Define donor purpose and governance goals.
- Structure compliant giving vehicles under Maltese and EU law.
- Verify recipients and ensure project readiness.
- Supervise implementation, compliance, and documentation.
- Report on verified results and measurable impact.
This integrated approach ensures that giving initiatives are legally sound, reputationally secure, and capable of producing tangible results.
Our Philanthropy and Impact Credentials
Our Philanthropy & Impact Advisory Team brings together lawyers, tax advisors, and CSR specialists experienced in cross-border giving and foundation governance.
We maintain a verified database of registered Maltese charities and voluntary organisations, regularly updated for compliance and governance checks. Our advisors are members of recognised international bodies such as STEP and the IBA reflecting our authority and global reach.
For UHNW families, philanthropy is an extension of family governance and legacy. It requires structure, due diligence, and independent supervision to achieve long-term results.
We help clients transform philanthropic intent into well-governed frameworks that reflect their values, ensure transparency, and generate meaningful social impact.
How Our Philanthropy Lawyers Can Help You
We assist:
- UHNW families and family offices - in designing structured giving frameworks, entity selection, tax exemptions, implementation of best practices and policies following international standards.
- Charitable foundations and NGOs - in ensuring compliance, governance, and reporting excellence.
- Corporate CSR teams - in managing donation oversight and project monitoring.
