JP Morgan Private Bank is to be the principal sponsor of the eighth Beacon Awards for Philanthropy, a biennial event which honours philanthropists who have focused their efforts specifically on UK causes.

JP Morgan Private Bank is joined by the City of London Corporation and Pears Foundation in sponsoring the Awards, which take place on 6 February at Mansion House in the City of London. JP Morgan, like many other firms, is a prominent supporter of philanthropic initiatives in recognition of the importance of such services in the wealth management mix. As well as sponsoring events like the Beacon Awards, wealth managers are increasingly engaging clients through strategic giving networks to facilitate HNW clients giving collaboratively, for example.

The Beacon Awards were hailed by former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown as “the Nobel Prize for philanthropy”;  since their inception in 2003 they have recognised 79 people as Beacon Fellows. Previous recipients of Beacon Awards include Zac Goldsmith, named Young Philanthropist in 2003, and John and Alex Timpson, named Family Business Philanthropists in 2010.

Nominees for the award can be either an individual, a family or a small group of individuals working collaboratively. The categories for the 2012/2013 Awards are as follows:

·        The Beacon Award for Cultural Philanthropy

·        The Beacon Award for Impact Investment

·        Beacon Award for Philanthropy Advocate

·        Beacon Award for Pioneering Philanthropy

·        Beacon Award for Place-Based Philanthropy

·        Beacon Award for Targeted Philanthropy

·        Beacon Award for City Philanthropy

Nominations must be received by 26 November; for additional information on the awards, click here.