Julia Unwin, the outgoing chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, urged philanthropists to find a new approach to tackling poverty, in the wake of the European Union referendum decision.

Giving a lecture last night on the role of philanthropy in reducing poverty, she said the recent referendum decision had “laid bare some real and damaging fractures in our society” and that “for philanthropy this moment provides both a hazard and an opportunity”.

She said that while philanthropists intended to help those in poverty, their actions were often seen as part of the problem by people living in poor communities.

She warned that philanthropic organisations were seen as part of the establishment, which now needs to “think very carefully about why its recommendation was rejected”.

“It was poverty that divided communities, and made it so hard to welcome the stranger, the migrant or the refugee,” she said. 

“A new approach to poverty is needed – one which recognises the changed reality of life in the UK in the 21st century, and marshals the considerable power of philanthropy to conquer this most persistent, most damaging social evil,” she said. 

She added that in some cases philanthropy can be a “detached benevolence” and “another manifestation of the privileged and closeted elites” which is “disconnected, illegitimate and out of touch”. 

“We cannot be seen to be part of the problem,” she said. “I’m interested in a modern, engaged, networked philanthropy, which is most definitely part of the solution.”

She said that philanthropists had the power through grantmaking, investment decisions and commissioning to reduce poverty on a number of fronts.

But the audience that philanthropists should not expect the same level of praise in the future. 

“Disruptive philanthropy may be more effective, but it won’t necessarily garner the tributes we are used to enjoying. It requires difficult choices to be made, and surprising friends being nurtured.