European Manifesto Calls for a Single Market for Philanthropy

A European Philanthropy Manifesto was launched in Brussels last week, calling on policymakers to introduce a single market for philanthropy with the goal of better enabling donors, foundations and citizens to act philanthropically across borders.

The manifesto, developed by the European Foundation Centre (EFC) and Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe (DAFNE), includes four recommendations to achieve a single philanthropic market, including better recognition of philanthropy within the legal framework of the EU and taking steps to reduce the barriers for cross-border giving.

Institutional philanthropy in Europe currently includes more than 147,000 foundations with accumulated annual giving of nearly 60 billion EUR

At the launch, EFC chair Massimo Lapucci said:

“The Philanthropy Manifesto is the first concrete result of the joint advocacy work of the EFC and DAFNE for the development of a single market without frontiers for the entire sector. It is, in fact, only in the presence of a favourable environment that institutional philanthropy can fully perform its role of building social capital: an essential ‘glue’ in today’s Europe, given the fragmentation caused by centrifugal forces and by an increasing disconnect between citizens and institutions.”

Gosse Bosma, EFA President and director of Goede Doelen Nederland, welcomed the initiative, saying:

“This is a strong step forward to develop a more enabling environment for philanthropy, encouraging collaboration across civil society and working towards better recognition of the enormous societal value of philanthropy at a European level.”

Organisations are being encouraged to sign up and pledge their support for the manifesto at philanthropyadvocacy.eu.