Philanthropy, how many are there and how corporate foundations work
From the Bracco Foundation to Accenture: here is a map of these organisations that are very active in the field of social inclusion
by Daniela Russo
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Key points
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Corporate foundations are going through a phase of great transformation, driven also by the need to respond to new social, economic and environmental challenges. The introduction of the Single National Register of the Third Sector (Runts) is destined to change the geography of this ecosystem, also affecting numbers and bringing to the fore stories hitherto excluded from this classification. According to the Italian Association of Foundations and Philanthropic Institutions (Assifero), the role of corporate foundations is undergoing a profound transformation, from simple fund disbursing bodies to strategic partners capable of promoting a philanthropy made up of planning and concrete impact on the territories.
How many are they
.The latest survey conducted by the association chaired by Stefania Mancini, in collaboration with Vita, identifies approximately 200 Italian corporate foundations, most of which were established in the last 15-20 years and not all of which are fully structured and/or operational. Organisations with many traits in common but which still know each other little and collaborate only occasionally, hence the need for a common listening moment such as the Italian Corporate Philanthropy camp, now in its third edition and promoted this year in Bologna by Assifero with Fondazione Golinelli and Fondazione Unipolis.
'These realities,' explains Mancini, 'are characterised by a strong connection with the local context. They act as catalysts for territorial development, creating synergies between the various actors, be they public, private or non-profit organisations. They are a real glue and have understood the importance of networking, favouring a qualitative increase in impact. Italian philanthropy is abandoning the grant-making approach, geared only to financing projects, to embrace a process logic. Today, foundations operate with a long-term vision, focusing on paths and relationships'.
Philanthropy as a path
.Despite the sector's growth, the number of corporate foundations in Italy is still limited compared to other EU countries and the United States, as is the volume of financial disbursements and portfolios. "The culture that these realities express," adds Mancini, "is very high, however, and they are capable of expressing an important capacity for dialogue with the territories, creating local paths that generate hope and which, within Assifero, open up to international comparison. Most of the realities we work with have abandoned the old patterns of philanthropy, based on disbursement alone, to adopt new ones, based on the principles of strategic philanthropy'.
Corporate foundations therefore become strategic interlocutors and partners for local stakeholders and institutions, promoting and supporting initiatives aimed at combating poverty and inclusion. An example of this vision is the foundations' commitment to sustainability and social justice, which goes beyond mere donations to assume a proactive and coordinating role, working on paths that can generate structural and lasting change.
