It starts with solidarity

In Europe, philanthropy is having ‘a moment’. A growing sense that problems shared across the continent – from Covid to war in Ukraine to the climate crisis – is driving a wave of cross-border giving. The sector’s timely and innovative responses to these crises have won us trust and allies in the public sector and yet, an unresolved legacy of the old Europe sits like a large speed bump across the path of a truly European philanthropy. To seize this moment of growth, we should cut away the tangle of national practices that are choking access to fiscal incentives for internationally minded foundations, donors, and beneficiaries.  

New studies from the Philanthropy Europe Association (Philea) and King Baudouin Foundation (KBF) highlight the problems. Philea, with Transnational Giving Europe (TGE), have compiled case studies of cross-border philanthropic actions within the EU that are being hampered by tax rules and procedures, thus effectively discriminating against foreign EU citizens and organisations. Some of which include decreased access to deductibility for foreign donations and reimbursement for foreign withholding tax on foundation investments. Driven by a growing number of requests from European donors, KBF has published a free guide for philanthropists, charities, and their advisers seeking to operate in any of the 27 EU states.  

A growing sense that problems shared across the continent – from Covid to war in Ukraine to the climate crisis – is driving a wave of cross-border giving.