Today, we celebrate the ninth edition of the European Day of Foundations and Donors that was conceived by Dafne-Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe in 2013 and is promoted in Italy by Assifero and Acri. The initiative calls on all European foundations and philanthropic agencies to remember their commitment to tackle the systemic issues faced by society. With over 147,000 foundations and philanthropic agencies providing 60 billion euro to support organisations and projects throughout Europe, this initiative serves to raise awareness amongst institutions, public opinion, third sector organisations, enterprises and private citizens on the potential of the European philanthropic system to catalyse and provide resources – not only financial, but also networking, social and material ones – and drive transformative processes both at the local and global levels.
This year’s edition, which will be dedicated to “A Step Towards the Future,” highlights how foundations and philanthropic agencies invest to make future society more inclusive, sustainable and fair, as well as revealing what is needed to to prepare for these systemic global challenges. One of these issues is climate change, one of the most urgent problems faced by humanity and our entire planet. Assifero is promoting a Declaration of commitment by Italian foundations and philanthropic agencies on climate change, which has been signed by 65 parties. The Declaration addresses six principles that any foundation, philanthropic agency or social investor – independently from their mission, area of activity, resources, geographical location – can undersign to express their will to integrate actions for the mitigation and adoption of the climate crisis as part of their organisation’s strategy, resource management, activities, operations and programmes [see news: Sign for the Planet].
