With a score of 3.83 out of 5, Spain is in the third part of the latest Global Philanthropy Environment Index, a reference study of philanthropic activities around the world prepared by Indiana University. The planetary average is 3.63 points.
In the same range as Spain, which ranges from 3.5 to 3.99 points, it includes Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Serbia or Ukraine, just to name the European countries. In the top category are Austria, Ireland, Italy, Romania and the United Kingdom, from 4 to 4.49 points. And in the highest band of the classification, 4.5 to 5 points, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. Below Spain are Albania, Hungary, Portugal and Russia between 3 and 3.49 points.
Spain is not the land of philanthropists.
A proposal to amend the patronage lawAdopted for processing at the Congress of Deputies and currently under presentation, it aims to turn the situation around. “The current norm dates back to 2002 and is ineffective despite adjustments made in 2014 because it doesn’t take into account the social, economic, technological and mental framework changes that have occurred since then,” says Sergi Miquel, PDeCat’s assistant. , the group that submitted the offer in December 2020.
key
The key point of the enterprise is increased tax incentives for natural persons, legal entities and non-residents who donate to public benefit non-profit organizations (ENL) (see chart below). Likewise, it proposes expanding the ENL beyond what is devoted to culture, sport, education, research and social work so that it can be considered of general interest. The essence of the offer is completed by its acceptance. crowdfunding through digital platforms and service donation to ENL, which is appropriately deducted by, for example, architectural firms, law firms or communications firms.
The proposal is inspired by regulations. France and ItalyIt placed both countries well above Spain in the 2022 Global Philanthropy Environment Index.
“It’s about making public policies that encourage and facilitate patronage, especially in an economic context where it’s already clear that Administrations can’t do everything,” says Maite Esteve, Catalonia Cultural Foundation. Exceeded ENL spending on general interest activities 15,000 million euros in 2021It shows the ‘Manifesto of Charity’ of the Association of Spanish Foundations.
The entity Esteve manages was born right after the severe cuts (especially in Catalonia) from the 2008 financial crisis and the notification from the Generalitat. It would be hard to recover budgets before hacks. “Our function is to build bridges for business to finance cultural projects,” Esteve summarizes.
emergencies
Àlex Susanna, artistic director Vila Casas FoundationHe thinks it is “clearly there are emergencies in health and education” that central and regional governments committed to contemporary art must put culture before culture in an environment of “permanent crisis”. So the “civil society we Catalans stuff our mouths with” has to pull the cultural and scientific car, something she does this way, according to Susanna: “There are very few surnames in pregnancy”.
Esteve, in contrast to the Anglo-Saxon environment, attributes the “insecurity” of patronage to a lack of tradition or to the interrupted tradition in Catalonia. But he thinks this is changing fast. this big businesses They realized the “reputational value” that sponsorship and patronage brought them, she explains. And more every time SMEs they use them to start “as the nearby territory claims”. Moreover, individuals for making small donations to ENL, whose business is close to them. He believes that this breeding ground will emerge with the amendment of the proposed law. “It is fair to adequately compensate the individuals and companies that have helped ENL fill its public shortcomings,” he concludes.
general interest
Daniel Granados, Barcelona City Council cultural rights delegatewarns that “the economic capacity of companies cannot replace the mandatory leadership of Administrations”. “That would be a resignation,” he adds. In its domain, Granados warns that it is necessary to carefully consider which cultural assets are accredited as general interest so that false interests do not escape. Likewise, she considers it necessary to attach the seal of general interest to the vibrant concept of cultural rights, which relates to the defense of minorities and artistic risk, as well as to feminism and education.
Barcelona City Council dedicates 6.48% of its total spending to cultureBy 1.3% of the Generalitat Government and 0.6% of the central government.
Unfulfilled promises and unsuccessful attempts to reform the patronage law are carpeting the Congress of Deputies. Despite these precedents, Miquel is “optimistic” about the prospects for benefiting from the reform proposal. “The key is in the Treasury,” Esteve says, which has been reluctant to tax incentives for centuries. who remembers this Jean-Jacques AilegonKnown by the French patronymic surname of 2003, he asked who would become finance minister before accepting the post of head of culture.