French coalition calls on presidential candidates to ‘commit to generosity’

With the French presidential election scheduled for April, a coalition of organisations from the nonprofit sector is campaigning to get the subject of philanthropy included in the political debate.

The Generosity Coalition is asking the presidential candidates to ‘commit to generosity’ by agreeing to support and encourage civic action and generosity, and to adapt the legal and tax framework to help simplify and strengthen it. It has produced a whitepaper with 8 proposals including encouraging and simplifying legacy giving and donations, establishing a tax system that incentives donations from individuals and businesses, and developing an annual generosity forum.

In a piece published in The Huffington Post, the coalition says that generosity benefits everyone but to meet the growing level of need in France, associations and foundations need political support to encourage and secure it. As such, it asks the candidates to listen to the sector and work with it.

The coalition argues that it is time to realise that generosity is not just a concept, but what binds society together. It questions where society would be without associations and foundations, donations, volunteering, and corporate giving, and asks candidates to consider the consequences of the health crisis without the mobilisation of associations, foundations and corporate sponsors.

France générosités is a member of the coalition. Its director of studies and communication Nolwenn Poupon explained:

“We want the French presidential candidates to recognise the impact of generosity and all that’s achieved by the country’s nonprofits, and have presented them with 8 concrete measures that, if implemented, would help to develop generosity and philanthropy further in France.”

Along with France générosités, the Generosity Coalition comprises Admical, the French Association of Fundraisers, the French Center for Funds and Foundations, the IDEAS Institute, the Institute of Directors of Associations and Foundations and the Associative Movement. It is also supported by Don en Confiance, Un Esprit de famille, Les Entreprises pour la Cité.