EUConsult Information Service
2007 February
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News / Resources
Sector News/Resources
- Forum on Philanthropy and Research Funding to be launched in second half of 2007
Under the leadership of the European Foundation Centre (EFC), key stakeholders will launch the “European Forum on Philanthropy and Research Funding” in the second half of 2007. The forum will be a platform to develop a European philanthropy research agenda to promote mutual learning, review best practices and improve collaboration. Philanthropy can and should play a more purposeful role in boosting Europe’s research capabilities. This key message emerged from the first-ever conference of its kind held in March 2006 on the subject of “Giving More for Research in Europe, strengthening of the role of philanthropy in the financing of research”. The event was organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the EFC in Brussels. Stemming from the recommendations of the expert group present at the event, the need for a “European Forum on Philanthropy and Research Funding” was endorsed by the stakeholders.
The Steering Group of the Forum held its first meeting in Brussels in January 2007 to develop the Forum working plan based on some 100 expressions of interest received to date. Four issues will be reviewed including: research funding policies and practices of philanthropic organisations; governance and ethical issues relating to philanthropic funding of research; legal, regulatory and fiscal issues relating to donors and philanthropic organisations; and philanthropic funding for universities from philanthropic resources. An initial meeting of the foundations stakeholders will take place at the 2007 EFC Annual Conference.
- The Community Foundation for Ireland joins the Transnational Giving Europe network
Good news for cross-border giving. After the Foundation for Poland, the Community Foundation for Ireland has joined the network providing on the one hand a solution for Irish donors wanting to help beneficiaries abroad and giving on the other hand the opportunity to national Irish beneficiaries to fundraise tax effectively in all the other TGE countries.
The Transnational Giving Europe (TGE) network is an important private initiative that, at European level, is the only practical and secure solution for tax-effective cross-border cash donations. The TGE network, a partnership between the Charities Aid Foundation, the King Baudouin Foundation, the Fondation de France, Oranjefonds, Maecenata International, the Foundation for Poland and since a few weeks the Community Foundation for Ireland, enables donors, both corporations and individuals, resident in one of the participating countries, to financially support non-profit organisations in other member countries, while benefiting directly from the tax advantages provided for in the legislation of their country of residence.
- American nonprofit sector surging
Nonprofits in the U.S. are big business, and the finances of charitable nonprofits in particular are growing much faster than the national economy, a new report says. Over 1.4 million nonprofits, including public charities, foundations and other tax-exempt groups like trade associations and labor unions, were registered with the IRS in 2004 and accounted for 5.2 percent of gross domestic product and 8.3 percent of wages and salaries paid in the U.S., says The Nonprofit Sector in Brief. Nonprofits overall accounted for $1.4 trillion in revenue and $3 trillion in assets in 2004, says the report, which features highlights from the Nonprofit Almanac 2007 that will be published soon by the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute. While the number of nonprofits overall recognized by the IRS grew 27 percent from 1994 to 2004, and the number of those reporting to the IRS grew 25.3 percent, the number of public charities grew 64.7 percent percent, to over 845,000, and the number of public charities reporting to the IRS grew 62.7 percent, to over 299,000. Individuals, corporations and foundations in 2005 gave $260 billion in charitable contributions to nonprofits, and 65 million Americans, or 29 percent of U.S. adults, volunteered. Read more…
Philanthropy Journal / Read the report: The Nonprofit Sector in Brief
- ETH Zurich receives donation of 3 million Swiss francs
The ETH Zurich Foundation has received SFr 3 million (almost EUR 1,849,000) from the Walter Haefner Foundation. The funds will be used to promote Switzerland as a centre for innovation and progress. Konrad Osterwalder, ETH’s acting President, commented that, “This kind of university funding will become even more important in the future.” The Walter Haefner Foundation is the grant-making family foundation of Walter Haefner, the founder and owner of automobile giant AMAG. The ETH Zurich Foundation has been responsible for ETH’s fundraising since the middle of 2004.
- King Baudouin International Development Prize awarded to Front Line Ireland
The King Baudouin Foundation has awarded the 2006-2007 King Baudouin International Development Prize (EUR 150,000) to the Irish organisation Front Line, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. Front Line is the only international NGO that is exclusively dedicated to the support and protection of human rights defenders. The Prize will be presented to Front Line Director Mary Lawlor on 8 May at the Royal Palace in Brussels.
King Baudouin Foundation / Front Line
- Launch of UK Fundraising Standards Board
The Fundraising Standards Board (FSB), the new UK self-regulatory body for fundraising, was launched in February 2007. EUConsult member Action Planning is one of the first consultancies to join the FSB alongside some 250 charities. The FSB website has a searchable list of members and further information.
- New platform to bring together Swiss NPOs and businesses
The Stiftung Kirchlicher Sozialdienst Zürich and the ETH Zürich have launched a new platform to bring together NPOs and businesses, thus providing opportunities for mutual exchange. With the engagement of companies gaining importance under the banners of corpororate citizenship and corporate social responsibility, it is hoped that new partnerships with NPOs can be supported in the fields of social welfare, culture, environment and sport. The research group at the ETH Zürich, Psychology of Work in Organisation and Society (PdA) is involved in the platform and will be evaluating the projects that come about as a reult.
sozialengagiert.ch (in German)
- Launch of major UK governance enquiry by acevo
The UK Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (acevo) is launching a major inquiry into standards of governance in the sector. The inquiry will review how CEO views on governance in the sector are evolving, and will aim to raise the overall level of board performance and to ensure greater accountability. The inquiry will be chaired by Rodney Brooke CBE, the current Chair of the General Social Care Council, and will focus on four main areas:
- Examine whether approaches to governance and procedures are sufficiently robust;
- Analyse the extent to which sector initiatives (such as the Code of Governance) have proved effective to date in helping CEOs;
- Discuss whether the current regulatory framework is helping or hindering third sector organisations in improving their governance;
- Identify drivers and initiatives that will support CEOs in reforming the areas of governance in which there has been limited or no progress.
- UK Charity Awards 2007
The Charity Awards recognise and honour outstanding performance in the leadership and management of charities. By highlighting the achievements of charities striving for excellence, the awards also promote best practice throughout the sector. Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on Thursday, 21 June 2007. Entry to the Charity Awards 2007 is free and nominations are welcome from charities of any size throughout the UK. Entries close on Friday, 16 March 2007. A full list of categories and criteria is available on the Charity Awards website.
- Gordon Michie joins Relationship Marketing
After seven years with Fundraising Initiatives, Gordon Michie has moved on to become Director of Development at Relationship Marketing, based in Dunfermline, Scotland.
- Communicating Success – conference on 27 March
This one-day conference in London is organised jointly by Action Planning and Communications INC in association with ACEVO and Third Sector magazine. Communicating Success will explore the major trends in communications and campaigning, covering areas such as: mobilising public support, generating income and capitalising on new development to build your organisation’s reputation.
- New Worldwide Exhibitions Guide from The Art Newspaper
The new Worldwide Exhibitions Guide from The Art Newspaper can be searched by date plus keyword, city, category. The listing currently includes 1,394 exhibitions.
