Fundraising association asks Austrian businesses to donate 1% of profits to good causes

Fundraising Verband Austria, the Austrian Fundraising Association, launched its annual campaign Aktion “Wirtschaft hilft!”  (Action “Economy helps!”) in November for the fifth year running.

First launched in 2014, the campaign aims to strengthen awareness for charitable activities within Austrian companies, to encourage them to donate more to non-profit organisations and to promote partnerships between companies and non-profit organisations.

This year the association is calling on the country’s businesses to contribute 1% or more of their profits to good causes.

Project Manager Michaela Wirth said:

“The message we want to get across is: if each company in Austria gave one per cent of its profit we could have a contribution of about €300 million  for charitable and humanitarian projects in Austria, which would make an incredible difference.“

Through the campaign, the association provides information and tools to encourage and support corporate charitable activities, including its magazine Spendenguide für Unternehmen. Along with interviews, useful articles, and reports on corporate donations, it features best practice examples and lists 50 non-profit organisations and their charitable activities and projects.

Aktion “Wirtschaft hilft!” incorporates an awards programme to encourage more philanthropic activity from the corporate sector. The awards recognise and celebrate companies that have established the most sustainable and innovative projects with non-profit organisations across three categories: small and medium sized businesses, major enterprises, and corporate volunteering. The closing date for award applications is 14 January 2019, with the award ceremony taking place in March.