Philanthropy is on the rise globally, according to the 2015 BNP Paribas Individual Philanthropy Index by Forbes Insights.

Scores went up for all four regions (the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia) canvassed by the index but it was Europe that made significant headway, rising to 55.5 points, almost on a par with the US at 55.7 points. The US' steady lead in philanthropy involves slower growth compared to Europe and Asia, and is largely thanks to starting out at a higher base with "older money" in philanthropic causes, the report said.

Impact investing featured as the most promising global trend, as reported by 52 per cent of philanthropists surveyed. This was closely followed by collaborative philanthropy, with 51 per cent looking to share funding or a common strategy.

As philanthropy burgeons, so is the demand for help to manage it effectively – a 67 per cent majority said advisors were necessary to navigate the giving sector.

In other revelations, although promotion via social media became the leading use of technology in philanthropy, promotion in the field was low across the globe. In fact, promotion was not only the lowest scoring category but it also registered a downward trend over the past three years. Forbes Insights attributed this to a growing reliance on organisations to promote the cause and, more notably, philanthropists' preference to stay under the radar.

The Index deduced its results from a survey of around 400 high net worth individuals in the four regions, each with investable assets of $5 million or more. It was conducted between October and December 2014.