The European Foundation Centre (EFC) and Donor and Foundations Network in Europe (DAFNE) marked the European Day of Foundations and Donors last week with a webinar bringing together over 100 European policy makers, representatives of public benefit foundations, and civil society organisations to consider how to utilise private resources for European solidarity.

The COVID-19 outbreak this year has demonstrated the fragility of our societies and how much we are in need of solidarity, EFC and DAFNE said in a statement.

Throughout this year, there has been unprecedented giving, amounting to €1.1 billion by May 2020 in Europe alone for pandemic response. Philanthropy and civil society have been together at the forefront of these efforts, EFC and DAFNE said.

‘Philanthropy has made solidarity tangible and visible. The philanthropic response to the crisis was tremendous and timely’, stressed Kerstin Jorna, Director General at the DG for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs.

‘For the philanthropic sector the COVID-19 crisis carries not only considerable risks but also presents opportunities to protect the social fabric in Europe, enhance solidarity, cross-border cooperation and support public-private initiatives’, said Prof. Joachim Rogall, President and CEO of the Robert Bosch Foundation, one of Europe’s largest public benefit foundations.