Coutts, the UK-based private bank, has developed a fund in partnership with the Community Foundation Network which allows philanthropists to increase their donations by up to 341%, through Gift Aid tax relief and government "top-up".

The Grassroots Personal Fund offers has the advantages of a private charitable trust but without the administrative overheads, according to Coutts. It enables a higher rate tax payer creating a new fund with a £100,000 contribution to increase its value to £128,210 through gift aid and, in areas where a 100% top up is available, then further leverage it to £256,420.