I attended the 16th International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR) recently in Antwerp, Belgium and it was an absolute delight to learn and network with colleagues from different parts of the world with a lot of unforgettable memories.

One of my many highlights is the doctoral seminar which presented an exciting opportunity to receive and give feedback on a range of dissertation topics and ideas. Another exciting highlight was the field trip to some civil society organizations within the city. As I gleaned information from the locals on their perspective of philanthropy, it was intriguing to learn that there are alternative ways to understand philanthropy. Indeed, in Belgium, philanthropy is practiced differently.

While the definition of philanthropy being voluntary action for the public good holds in Flanders, the monetary measurement of philanthropy is not a popular concept. Philanthropy according to the locals is the ability of citizens to organize themselves and participate in governance, by lending their voices and highlighting their concerns to the government. The Flemish people believe that it is the responsibility of the government to provide social amenities since they already pay a substantial amount in taxes.

I learned that fundraising from individuals and corporations is not the norm because of the belief that rich people benefit from legislation loopholes, and their money is ‘proceeds from corruption’. In addition, civil society organizations do not want to be ‘in debt of reciprocity’ to any individual or corporation since gifts come with the notion of reciprocity. Therefore, everyone goes to the government for funds. Nonprofits civil society organizations, and for-profit social enterprises depend largely on grants from the government at the local, regional, and national levels to fund their services, this can be likened to ‘contracting out’ from the government to nonprofit organizations.

However, receiving grants and funds from the government have not in any way hindered their ability to criticize the government. I learned that the government encourages criticism and advocacy projects, and because of this, citizens voluntarily organize themselves and actively participate in governance. To put things in perspective, I visited four civil society organizations: SAAMO, CommonsLab, Avansa, and Het Boss in Antwerp.

SAAMO

SAAMO Antwerp was established in 1983 to organize the most vulnerable in the community and ensure they contribute to building a society where there is room for everyone. The organization focuses on tackling exclusion, and building collaboration with the governments and other civil society organizations to ensure that community workers across Flanders and Brussels build a society where everyone is included.

SAAMO is passionate about the realization of various fundamental human rights, stronger neighborhoods and cities, and collective citizenship. This organization works on increasing opportunities for people in vulnerable positions to claim their right to quality services and adequate income, affordable and quality housing with sufficient residential security for people in precarious housing situations and strengthening solidarity towards a society that does not exclude or discriminate.

CommonsLab

Commons Lab is a grassroots, not-for-profit ‘socio-cultural’ organization, founded as ‘Commons Lab Antwerp’ at the end of 2017. It’s an experimental lab investigating ‘commons transition’; new forms of collaborative action that are leading urban and rural areas towards new forms of participatory governance, inclusive economic growth, and social innovation.

CommonsLab was founded by citizens with partnerships from social innovators like digital collaborators, urban regenerators, local authorities, businesses, civil society organizations, and knowledge institutions (i.e. schools, universities, cultural institutions, museums, academies, etc.). One fascinating thing about CommonsLab is the ability to increase the utility of church cathedrals by converting them into shared spaces for the community beyond weekly church services.

Avansa

Avansa is committed to social progress and sustainable change by collaborating with citizens’ initiatives, governments, and organizations. The organization sets up group activities and guides participation projects on various themes by stimulating social engagement in governance, strengthening citizens’ initiatives, and helping in policy shaping. Avansa is keen on diversity, equity, and inclusion of every member of society including people living with visible and invisible disabilities.

Het Bos

Het Bos is an artistic house, a breeding ground where art, social involvement, and meeting are central. It is an autonomous place with its own rules and artistic practices and an accessible place that makes connections with the neighborhood and residents of the city. Het Bos specially invites young people, because of their courage, open outlook, and fierce action. Het Bos is a place for meetings, exchanges, planning, research, creation, and confrontation. It is home to young artists, performers, chefs, bricoleurs, thinkers, dancers, and drinkers who come together to create, cook, chat, think, dance, drink, or just be.

Connecting the dots

All the four civil society organizations I visited in Antwerp created the space and structure for citizens’ engagement and involvement in governance. Citizens on their part, voluntarily offer themselves to contribute meaningfully to improve the socio-economic conditions of their communities. While this act aligns with Payton and Moody’s (2008), definition of philanthropy as voluntary action for public good, there is a need to further explore alternative, non-monetary practices of philanthropy like participation, especially in non-capitalist societies.

Imoleayo (Ayo) Adeyeri is a doctoral candidate at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She identifies as a Pracademic with 15 years of work experience as a nonprofit program manager and fund development professional in Africa, United States and Canada