EUConsult Information Service

2006 January

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Sector News/Resources

Netherlands most generous country, USA 8th place in volunteering
While it tops the list in financial generosity, the USA lags seven other nations in volunteering. In a study of private philanthropy across the world, Johns Hopkins University analyzes cash and in-kind giving as a percentage of gross domestic product, and the value of volunteer time as a percentage of GDP. Where available, the data include giving and volunteering for religious organizations. The U.S. tops the list for donation of cash and in-kind property, giving 1.85 percent of GDP, followed by Israel, Canada and Argentina, the study says. The Netherlands ranks highest for volunteering at 4.7 percent of GDP, followed by Sweden, Tanzania and Norway, with the U.S. coming in eighth with volunteering representing 2.18 percent of GDP. For overall generosity, which includes both volunteer time and financial giving, The Netherlands ranks highest, followed by Sweden and the U.S. The study was conducted by the Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project.
Philanthropy Journal article / Study Lists / Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project

Disasters & Emergencies Committe criticises UK tunami response
Almost two-thirds of the £350m donated by the UK public for the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami has not yet been spent. An internal report for the Disasters and Emergencies Committee, the body which coordinates the UK's fundraising efforts for major disasters, criticised British aid agencies' response to the tsunami. More than a year after the tsunami struck, too many of the victims were still living in tents, in part because of the agencies' "lack of expertise in post-disaster housing", the document added.
Read the Guardian report

Major disaster giving in the USA only 1.9% of total for 2004
Americans responded generously to multiple natural disasters in 2005. The Center on Philanthropy's tracking indicates that in addition to the record $2.96 billion raised for Gulf Coast hurricane victims, US based organizations collecting aid for disasters have received nearly $1.8 billion for relief and rebuilding after the Asian tsunami and more than $78 million to aid victims of the earthquake in Pakistan and surrounding areas. While giving for the three disasters—the tsunami, the Gulf Coast hurricanes and the Asian earthquake—currently totals approximately $4.83 billion, this amount is equivalent to only about 1.9 percent of total charitable giving in the US in 2004, which was estimated at $248 billion by the Giving USA Foundation.
Indiana University Center on Philanthropy

Private support for the UK arts sector tops £450 million
The latest figures for support of the UK arts sector published in a summary report by Arts & Business, a charity dedicated to developing effective partnerships between business and the arts, shows that the total amount of private support for the arts in the UK has grown to £452 million - an increase of 15% from 2002/03. The biggest growth area has been in individual giving which now stands at £244 million, a rise of 18% since 2002/03. Business investment rose slightly to £119 million and investment from trusts and foundations fell to £88.7 million. A full report will follow in March 2006.
Arts & Business Private Investment in the Arts summary report

First Report on University Fundraising in Germany
A joint study from Die Zeit newspaper, the Centre for University Development and the German Fundraising Association was published in December. The report, First Impressions on the State of University Fundraising in Germany, shows the diverse stages of development in the field. Many universities have not yet applied themselves seriously to seeking private funds to improve their financial position, although universities such as the Technical University in Munich or Mannheim University can show some success with fundraising and sponsorship. The report reveals that in 2003 the universities taking part in the study received EUR 1.5 million in private donations, with polytechnics raising EUR 91,000; only 13 of the universities have a full-time fundraiser and about half do not have a fundraiser at all; only 8 universities were able to profit from the financial commitment shown by their alumni, and there were only 3 universities where the support of alumni counted for more than 10% of the total amount received in donations.
Die Zeit article / Download the Study / German Fundraising Association

UK Institute of Fundraising launches Code of Fundraising Practice
The Institute of Fundraising (‘Institute') has launched a new Code of Fundraising Practice “Best Practice for Fundraising Contracts”, intended as a practical guide for contractual agreements between charities and service providers such as consultants, professional fundraisers, professional fundraising organisations and agencies. The Code covers the various stages involved in creating a fundraising contract, from providing a brief and choosing a provider to individual clauses outlining risk, specifications, standards, payment and success measures. It also emphasises the need to regularly review the contract as the partnership evolves, ensuring it remains up-to-date and reviewing the provider's performance against the clauses of the contract.
Institute of Fundraising
> Codes of Fundraising Practice > Best Practice for Fundraising Contracts

Cross-Border Giving conference presentations to download
The presentations from the International Philanthropy: Creating the Right Climate conference, which was hosted by the King Baudouin Foundation, can be downloaded from the Giving in Europe website. Sessions include:

• Current status of cross-border philanthropy in Europe
• Risks for European cross-border giving
• Friendly and unfriendly cross-border giving countries in Europe

The conclusions of the conference are yet to be published.
Giving in Europe website

Largest single gift from individual for the Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera announced today that it has received a gift of $25 million dollars from Mr. and Mrs. Sid R. Bass, representing the largest single unrestricted gift paid at one time from an individual in the company's 123-year history. This gift marks the beginning of a fundraising initiative for support of increased artistic activities and audience development projects.
Metropolitan Opera