In 2013, Daphnethe European network of associations of foundations and donors, of which the Spanish Association of Foundations is a founding member, celebrated this day for the first time.
Since then, during the fifteen days preceding the celebration, foundations from all over the continent join together to to raise awareness and recognition of the foundations and philanthropy sector in its contribution to improving the lives of people and society.
European philanthropy is as diverse as the society in which it develops. There are currently more than 147,000 foundations in Europe, giving €60 billion annually to organisations and projects. Foundations and donors work with local communities to rebuild trust, provide access to art through the maintenance of museums and exhibitions, support the homeless and help them find their own voice and place in society, provide scholarships to young people, encourage innovation, support research, act against climate change and a long list of other areas, all with the common denominator of contributing to general interest purposes.
The coordination of hundreds of initiatives around 1 October provides an opportunity to better understand the foundation sector and the activities it carries out. These days coincide with the presentation of studies and books, the inauguration of exhibitions, open days and, above all, a strong presence on social networks explaining the work that each foundation carries out.
Especially today, 1 October, the European foundation sector is taking to twitter. Through various hashtags, you can find out about the issues that most concern the sector, but also stories of people whose lives have been improved thanks to philanthropy across the continent. #EuropeTogether #WeArePhilanthropy #philanthropy4good
In Spain, the Twitter event starts at 12 noon and can be followed at #October1Europe. As every year, we hope that in an atmosphere of celebration we will share enthusiasm for the work carried out, recognition and visibility of a sector that in Spain is made up of around 8,900 active foundations and employs around 256,867 workers. It constitutes 0.8% of the Spanish GDP and generates an expenditure of more than 8,000 million euros, serving 35.62 million people (beneficiaries).
The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed many of the vulnerabilities of our societies, such as socio-economic inequality, the digital divide and the fragility of our health systems. Throughout this crisis, philanthropy has been at the forefront, together with civil society organisations, communities and local authorities, combating the pandemic and its negative impact on our societies. That is why on this occasion on 1 October we will celebrate the contribution that European philanthropy has made since March, with more than 1.1 billion Euros contributed by, among others, the more than 10,000 foundations and donors represented by Daphne and the European Foundation Centerincluding the more than 800 foundations that are partners of the Spanish Association of Foundations.
Rosa Gallego
Director of International Relations, Autonomous Councils and Finances at the Spanish Association of Foundations since 2001. She sits on the boards of several international organisations related to philanthropy such as Wings and Candid.