STIFTUNGSREPORT 2016
III. STIFTUNGEN IN EUROPA
EIN STARKES NETZWERK FÜR EUROPA Gespräch mit Rosa Gallego, Präsidentin des Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe (DAFNE); die Fragen stellte Beate Eckhardt. In most European countries associations of foundations have evolved in the last ten years. What were the reasons? The concept of association and networking is important at national level for a variety of reasons. Firstly it creates a ‘safe space’ for foundations to convene and to discuss matters that are relevant to their operations and their interests. The foundation world is dynamic and it is important for foundation members to keep up to date with the legal and fiscal issues that determine the environment within which they operate. Secondly associations provide a forum where possibilities for collaboration can be explored and where connections can be made within and beyond the foundation world. Thirdly associations provide the means for articulating the voice of the foundation sector to policy makers and to the general public – raising awareness about what they do but also through informing and influencing policy – in particular that relating to the enabling environment. Taking into account that foundations can be up to one percent of the GDP of a particular country – as we know by the research carried out by DAFNE – they are a significant group with common issues, interest and aims. 2009 the Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe (DAFNE) has made the development from a loose network to an institutionalized organization. How did DAFNE evolve and what has DAFNE achieved? DAFNE was started and remains as an informal network, although in 2009 it did agree statutes and established a more formal process of governance. Last year there was a major step-change in our development with the employment of a Co-ordinating Director, thanks to financial support from the C.S. Mott Foundation which has a particular interest in building philanthropy infrastructure.
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