UniCredit Foundation

UniCredit Foundation works through the promotion of social cohesion processes in the territories and through social entrepreneurship, considered a capable tool for producing and delivering goods and services for social utility.
The Foundation is a competence center for UniCredit on issues of philanthropy and the third sector. In particular, the foundation offers advice and organises activities for the Group companies and their customers.
Lastly, UniCredit Foundation promotes a culture of volunteering and giving to the community through the dedicated efforts of all the employees, encouraging their participation in social activities and projects.

Mission

UniCredit Foundation is a corporate foundation that was established in 2003 in order to contribute to the development of solidarity and philanthropy in the communities and territories where UniCredit operates, primarily in the regions where UniCredit is present (17 countries including Europe and Central Asia). Through the transfer of financial resources and the typical management skills of a company, UniCredit Foundation supports projects of significant social impact and innovation, implemented by local non-profit organizations.

Geographic Focus

The 22 countries were UniCredit Group is present. In the last few years initiatives have mainly been in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia. The foundation also operates in Burkina Faso and Benin.

Programme Areas

The foundation focuses on the following areas of interest:

• Primary healthcare
• Migrations Programme
• Social Business
• Social enterprise
• Other initiatives

Primary Healthcare
UniCredit Foundation’s projects promote a multi-sector approach, which combines actions designed to restore public healthcare and extend the coverage of essential health services, with actions aimed at improving social and economic conditions of the local communities. The foundation’s main initiatives are focused on the rural areas of Benin and Burkina Faso.

Migrations Programme
The Migrations Programme has been promoted by UniCredit Foundation within UniCredit, with the main goal of increasing awareness and culture about the phenomenon of international migrations. This multi-year programme targets the 22 countries where UniCredit is present – which are to some extent affected by migrations flows and effects.

The programme consists of the following main components:

• Development Projects to support, in each country, social initiatives focusing on relevant local issues related to migration
• Employee Community Involvement (ECI) activities to offer for direct involvement of UniCredit Colleagues, giving them different possibilities to learn, express their passions and engage directly

Visit the dedicated website migrations.unicreditfoundation.org

Social Business
Since 2008 UniCredit Foundation has dedicated particular attention to the concept of microcredit as the only relevant instrument to fight poverty and promote social inclusion based on mechanisms characteristic of the banking world. In June of that year, a feasibility study was launched in collaboration with the University of Bologna and Grameen Trust to verify the opportunity to set up a micro finance initiative according to Grameen’s best practices. In February 2009 it was agreed that the preconditions exist for effectively implementing the Grameen Italia project and the second phase was initiated to define the various structural, financial and organisational aspects.

Social Enterprise
Since 2007 UniCredit Foundation has launched a number of initiatives centered on the concept of social business, a concept that represents a natural connection between the for profit and the non-profit sectors, an intermediate form – often defined as “not only for profit” – which attempts to create a virtuous combination of techniques and methodologies typical of the for profit sector and aspirations and ideals of the non-profit sector. Social purpose can be pursued through the direct production of services such as care living, education, healthcare, etc. or through the production of goods or services to aid the creation of job opportunities for vulnerable persons (former convicts, people with disabilities, former drug addicts, etc.).

Other initiatives
In addition to the main areas of intervention, UniCredit Foundation also supports:

• Social projects of Casa della carità Foundation and the cultural activities of the Accademia della carità
• United Colours of Futsal
• The Afro project
• The project of social cohesion Conoscere per essere of the School Association of the G.Giusti Institute