Creating a culture of giving

A CLARE man is among those behind plans for a new national awareness campaign aimed at creating a sustainable culture of giving in Ireland. Plans are underway for a National Giving Campaign on the back of new research published by the Forum on Philanthropy and Fundraising.

 

Kilkee’s Seamus Mulconry, executive director of Philanthropy Ireland, states, “We are committed to developing a new model of sustainable giving in Ireland. Significant progress has been made towards implementing the recommendations of the report on the Forum of Philanthropy and Fundraising. The National Giving Campaign is an important element of these recommendations, which will create mass awareness about the importance of philanthropy and the impact that can be made in this country.”

It is intended that the campaign, in partnership with Ireland’s leading charities and not-for-profit organisations, will be launched in the first half of 2013 as part of the recommendations of the report. Planning is already underway, which involves a major consultation with all key stakeholders.

The research highlights the scope to substantially increase investment in the Irish not-for-profit sector by creating a favourable environment for individual and corporate giving in this country. In addition, there is an appetite amongst the Irish general public for a national turning point and nostalgia for moments in the past when the collective appeared to change direction with events such as Live Aid or Italia ’90.

The qualitative research study, undertaken by Pathfinder Research, indicates that despite being in a recession, there is a willingness by the Irish general public to consider giving more, whether that be money or time.

This desire is most apparent with causes where there is a tangible vision and outcome to rally around. The Forum on Philanthropy and Fundraising believes that smarter (planned) giving in Ireland by individuals, corporate entities and the general public could contribute significantly to Ireland’s recovery.

The Pathfinder research follows on from the report on the Forum of Philanthropy and Fundraising in July 2012, published by Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan. This report highlighted the need for a National Giving Campaign to develop mass awareness of the importance of philanthropy, the creation of a national social innovation fund, the improvement of the regulatory and fiscal infrastructure and the development of fundraising capacity in Ireland.

Commenting, Frank Flannery, chair of the Forum on Philanthropy and Fundraising said, “Philanthropy has been proven in many other countries to provide real and tangible social change and has the potential to play a crucial role in Ireland’s recovery and help address critical social issues in this country such as unemployment, education, health and the environment.

“Today’s research indicates that there is an opportunity to create a  change among individuals, corporate entities and the wider general public’s attitudes towards philanthropy and giving. As a nation, the scope exists to give in a smarter way. In addition, significant barriers can be overcome to enable us to create a philanthropic culture in this country.”