First transnational giving platform launches to facilitate European cross-border philanthropy

The first online European cross-border giving platform launched this week, facilitating tax-effective philanthropy across Europe.

The Transnational Giving Platform, built by the Transnational Giving Europe Network, aims to simplify the process of European online cross-border donations by allowing individuals and companies to donate digitally to causes and organisations of their choice across Europe, while benefitting from tax deductions in their country of residence.

The initiative is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation in Geneva, with the support of the King Baudouin Foundation in Brussels, with iRaiser behind the technology.

Ludwig Forrest, head of international philanthropy of the King Baudouin Foundation, commented:

“As coordinator of the Transnational Giving Europe Network, the King Baudouin Foundation is pleased to introduce this innovative digital solution that will finally facilitate cross-border generosity in Europe. Now, more than ever, European philanthropy will be able to play its complementary role to public action. Many European donors will be able to use this platform to support projects of general interest in most European countries under the best conditions.”

Two organisations (FEDORA and Common Goal) participated in the development of the system and are the first non-profit organisations in Europe to use the new online donation platform. FEDORA is the European Platform supporting innovation and intercultural dialogue in the fields of opera and ballet, while Common Goal is a philanthropic movement that encourages professional football players, managers and businesses to pledge a minimum of one percent of their earnings to sports-based non-profit organisations that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

Cvjetana Plavsa-Matic, Transnational Giving Europe chair, said:

“This project puts a digital tool at the service of the pure human need to give to causes close to one’s heart. With this new online giving solution, we bridge the gap between European donors and the non-profit sector and move one step closer to a single European market for philanthropy.”

At the moment, individual and corporate residents from the following countries can benefit from national tax deductions on their donations through Transnational Giving Europe’s collaboration with national partner foundations:

– Austria – Philanthropie Stiftung Österreich

– Belgium – King Baudouin Foundation

– Bulgaria – BCause

– Croatia – European Foundation for Philanthropy and Society Development (EFPSD)

– France – Fondation de France

– Germany – Maecenata Stiftung

– Greece – Higher Incubator Giving Growth & Sustainability – HIGGS

– Hungary – Carpathian Foundation Hungary

– Italy – Fondazione Lang Europe Onlus

– Romania – Odorheiu Secuiesc Community Foundation

– Spain – Empresa y Sociedad Fundación

– Switzerland – Swiss Philanthropy Foundation

– United Kingdom – Charities Aid Foundation 

The pilot version of the online Transnational Giving Europe Platform will now be scaled up to include more European countries and as many beneficiaries as possible by 2021, with the goal being to make it accessible to the entire European non-profit sector by enabling any non-profit organisation to raise funds across Europe.