Philanthropy inspires me with hope because it is rooted in solidarity, generosity and love

The following interview was originally published in El País on 25 June 2025

You have extensive experience in advocating for social rights and working with international NGOs. What new personal and professional lessons are you learning in the foundation and philanthropy sector?

I joined the philanthropy sector four and a half years ago after almost two decades in (I)NGOs and I must admit it has been quite a humbling experience. Over the past few years, I have become increasingly convinced of the unique and important societal value of philanthropy, which is something I did not fully realise while I was in the (I)NGO sector.

On the one hand, I have come to discover the deep knowledge, expertise and creativity that sits in philanthropic organisations. They are rooted in communities and have the capacity to uplift ideas and local experiences in a way other sectors can’t. From thematic expertise to an understanding of how to build collaborations and support wider communities in a meaningful way, philanthropy’s non-financial resources have been the most exciting facet for me to discover.

We are faced with an increasingly complex polycrisis, exacerbated by funding cuts which further constrain society’s ability to invest in solutions. So, the long-term, patient capital of philanthropy, its ability to take risks that governments can’t, to invest more flexibly and to innovate, has become in my view even more relevant.

On a more personal level, philanthropy gives me hope. At its core, it is rooted in solidarity, generosity and a love for humankind – values that are expressed daily in countless ways, all of which are essential to help us navigate these challenging times and move toward a better future for people and planet.

What are the major social causes supported by European foundations and the philanthropy sector? Are there also lesser-known but equally important causes?

Traditionally, the main causes supported by the European foundations – and the philanthropy sector in general – include education and training, arts and culture, health, socio-economic development and bespoke environmental causes. More recently, we have seen a growing focus on mental health, climate, racial and gender equality, democracy and social cohesion as well as community regeneration. A wide variety of areas and a wide variety of approaches: some foundations focus their support on one group (such as women, people with disabilities and so on), covering any potential issue affecting this specific group.

Others may have a broad spectrum in terms of the population or target groups they support but focus on a single issue (e.g. climate). And then there is every combination in between: from foundations with a broad, topic-led mandate, or foundations who apply a systems lens to everything they do and decide strategically where they can make a difference with their resources and expertise. We are also seeing a growing interest in foundations approaching causes they care about from an intersectional perspective, for example gender x climate.

In terms of lesser-known causes, worth mentioning are data for good, AI, journalism and media, sustainable food systems, housing and so much more. In addition to these lesser-known cases, it is fascinating also to see the diverse approaches and tools that are increasingly deployed by philanthropic organisations, from impact investing to ‘public-private-philanthropy-partnerships.’ Philanthropic organisations also come in a spectrum of forms, from community foundations to enterprise foundations, all of whom play a slightly different role in the wider ecosystem. In short, each organisation is truly sui generis, so if you know one foundation, you know one foundation!

Regarding the foundation sector, what are the strengths and shortcomings of our approach in Europe?

Philanthropy’s strength lies in bringing approaches, abilities, patience and perspectives that other sectors can’t. For example, they can take longer-term approaches to issues – and take more risks – than a government can. Their “toolbox” also includes providing innovative and early-stage financing in addition to core and flexible funding (especially important for organisations working with at-risk groups and unpopular issues). But it isn’t just about how they work, it’s also about who they work with, and one key strength is their ability to bridge across to the private sector, academia, governments and other, less formal, actors.

Beyond these distinguishing factors, there is value in philanthropy’s diverse, historic roots. Of course, this diversity also makes for quite a complex sector, and there are most certainly still areas for improvement, for example streamlining and simplifying processes and supporting grantees with more flexible grants. With the urgency of the climate crisis, of rising inequality and democratic backsliding – against a background of funding cuts – philanthropic organisations are also called upon to be more courageous and deploy their toolbox fully to address the pressing challenges of our times.

And in Spain?

Like the wider European sector, the Spanish sector is extremely diverse. In our recent report on the Fabric of Giving 2025, Spain is in the top five in terms of the total number of foundations and counted among them are some of largest foundations in Europe, such as “la Caixa” Foundation. Compared to the rest of Europe, there are less endowed foundations in Spain, which stems from the country’s history and socio-economic development.

Likewise, grantmaking is not the principal way in which philanthropy is practiced in Spain, and even some of the larger foundations are moving to a more operational approach, running their own programmes. This doesn’t make Spain less generous though: as the Association of Spanish Foundations can testify, there are many very local initiatives which all contribute to the common good. And these organisations may not see this as a core part of their identity, local solutions are so often the key to unlocking global problems.

Does the European foundation sector reflect the virtues – and perhaps the shortcomings – of civil society (for example, a greater or lesser degree of solidarity, organisational capacity, civic awareness, etc.)?

Philanthropy is often considered to be part of the broader civil society, while at the same time also being an enabler of civil society. It is also considered to be closely connected to the social economy, while again also being an enabler of the social economy.

In this sense, the philanthropic sector is a sector in its own right, while also being part of a much wider ecosystem. What distinguishes philanthropy from the rest is that it essentially invests private resources (financial and non-financial) for the common good. As such, the virtues of solidarity and generosity are shared with civil society. Both philanthropy and civil society are likewise affected by the shrinking civic space. In fact, the pressure of funding cuts, of legal and administrative threats to basic principles such as the freedom of association and value, also affect philanthropy.

In addition, philanthropy faces barriers in the field of, for instance, cross-border giving, with increasing foreign funding restrictions emerging across Europe. Obstacles to philanthropy affect civil society, as it limits the philanthropic sector’s ability to act as an enabler. This is why as Philea we have created a philanthropy Manifesto, which calls upon authorities to enable philanthropy, facilitate cross-border philanthropy and empower and partner with the sector. While we are dwarfed by the funding available by the public sector, philanthropy can nonetheless be a unique and much needed catalyst for progress.

Could you provide specific examples of European foundations working on these causes that may not be widely known to the public?

It’s always challenging to pick out a few examples, as it means leaving out so many others, but here are a few which may be inspiring.

In the field of AI, one that would come to mind is the Ageing with Tech Festival organised by the German foundation, Körber-Stiftung. The festival is a celebration of the opportunities of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence for old age.

In the field of Food, the EC funded FoodPaths project involves several foundations as well as Philea, and aims at ensuring a healthy, sustainable, safe and fair European food system.

Also worth mentioning is the work of the Journalism Funders Forum, an open community of European funders working together to engage in an interactive and proactive manner around the issue of independent, quality journalism and its role in supporting democracy. It provides an entry point for funders new to the field, and a pathway for philanthropy to drive the agenda on independent journalism funding in Europe.

One I find inspiring also, probably because of my previous work in the children’s rights’ sector, is the Transition to Adulthood by the Barrow Cadbury Trust in the UK. The programme focusses on child friendly justice.

From there we could jump to the Metsän puolella (“For the Woods”) initiative, launched by Finland’s Kone Foundation. The initiative aims at enriching and diversifying the public discourse surrounding forests. By funding a wide array of projects – including research, art, journalism and activism – the initiative seeks to illuminate the multifaceted roles and meanings of forests in society.

A last one maybe, somewhat closer to home, would be the Climate Participation Initiative by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, designed to enhance public engagement in climate action across Portugal.

These are of course just a few examples, and many more could come to mind. They do give a flavour of how foundations contribute to causes that eventually affect us all, in big and small ways.

Are there models outside the EU that could serve as references for European foundations to grow and improve?

Most definitely! Philanthropy exists in many shapes and forms across the globe, from the big philanthropy in the US – which is probably the best known – to more indigenous forms of philanthropy or the spirit of ‘ubuntu’ which characterises African communities.

Models we are probably catching up on in Europe include the strong public-private-philanthropy-partnerships in Asia. In Europe, foundations would like to keep their autonomy (for good reason) which can sometimes be an impediment to collaboration. Although the relationship can be ambivalent, Asian philanthropy seeks to collaborate with the government in a complimentary role. Collaboration allows philanthropists to achieve goals and governments to rely on external support where their resources are limited. Leveraging long-standing relationships and understanding the local context allows Asian foundations to engage and work with the government.

On the African continent, the term philanthropy is less socialised, but philanthropy is everywhere. I recently learned that the first university of Botswana was built by people who sold their cows to finance it. This to me illustrates the resilience and determination which we ae Europeans have so much to learn from.

In Latin America, there has traditionally been more focus on impact investing and on supporting social entrepreneurship. There has also been a strong tradition in Latin America of investing in racial equity and justice, direct support for social movements, funding for indigenous communities, etc.

The US, which has in many ways dominates the image of philanthropy around the world, we are seeing an advance in trust-based philanthropy approaches, which, again, Europe is still learning from.

All of these practices, mindsets and models are helpful for the European sector’s own development, which is why we invest, for instance, in learning journeys with Asia, or in opportunities to learn from our African partners. We are also very involved in WINGS, a global movement of philanthropy, which brings together organisations from all corners of the world.

Philea has published a report on the threats facing democracy in Europe, such as political polarisation and economic difficulties affecting the population (housing, healthcare, employment…). What are foundations doing – and what more can they do – to counteract this erosion of democracy?

While the rise of populism often pulls our immediate focus, it is essential to instead address the deeper, underlying causes. The democracy briefer divides these into three broad areas: unmet needs, unheard emotions and systemic failures.

Critical needs like affordable housing were left underfunded while the cost of living soared. This neglect has widened socio-economic gaps, deepening the sentiment that our current democracy does not treat everyone as equals.

Anger towards ruling parties is increasingly common, driven by the stark contrast in socio-economic outlook for younger generations. Additionally, feelings of isolation and a loss of community exacerbate this discontent, as they struggle to connect in a rapidly changing society.

Lastly, our current iteration of democracy is full of systemic issues that undermine trust: underrepresentation, a rapid political cycle that invites short-term thinking and eroding rule of law.

To understand and address this complex interplay of challenges, philanthropy must look beyond mere symptoms and catalyse change at the roots. The potential for impact is at an all-time high. There is a rich ecosystem of movements and organisations out there ready to ramp up their efforts in defending and innovating democracy with numerous tried and tested methods waiting to be leveraged.