Photo by Partners Albania for Change and Development
By Juliana Hoxha, Director, Partners Albania for Change and Development
In a rapidly evolving world, philanthropy emerges as a beacon of hope and change. In the last decade, Partners Albania for Change and Development has witnessed and championed the development changes in Albania’s philanthropic sector. We have been working to promote and support the sector’s development through regular research and monitoring of the philanthropy field, consistent education, and the creation of spaces that facilitate giving and foster community engagement.
When we started to work, “philanthropy” in Albania was primarily associated with major US philanthropists rather than local initiatives, despite a rich giving culture during the 19th century brutally destroyed during 45 years of communism. However, (un)surprisingly, our preliminary research revealed active private sector contributions to public welfare. Still, the study highlighted several structural and non-structural impediments to philanthropic activity, such as misperception and/or fear of interpreting giving as tax evasion and lack of trust between donors and beneficiaries. The lack of infrastructure (intermediaries, crowd platforms) providing support and information about where to donate and who would benefit made giving difficult. Another challenge was the lack of fiscal incentives for private and corporate donations.
Today’s picture is quite different, marking a vast improvement and development in just a decade. Even though the legal framework does not show significant progress, the changes are mainly related to an evolving culture of philanthropy from corporations and individual citizens in a new socio-economic setting. All these developments and regular analyses are brought to the public through our Philanthropy Magazine, which reflects on local developments and feeds the debate with global trends and practices.
Our regular monitoring of philanthropic activity, the only of this kind, provides valuable insights into the state of philanthropy in the country, which continues to create awareness and stimulus for philanthropic activity. These reports, issued monthly since 2015, based on data and facts reported by media, crowdfunding platforms, and government agencies’ websites, are the best sources to evaluate the development of philanthropic activity. Although the data could be more accurate and the value of giving in the country is expected to be higher than the one reported by the media, it provides a good base to judge the main trends.
By analysing the last five years (2019 – first half of 2023), we see a steady exponential increase in giving, year by year. In 2019, Albania was hit by one of the most powerful earthquakes, resulting in 51 lost lives, 3,000 injured and tens of thousands of citizens remaining unsheltered. This year marked a record giving of EUR 12,5 million. In 2020, during the coronavirus, there was a temporary contraction in giving, which might be attributed partly to reduced media reporting and the poor economic performance of the private sector and family economy.
Philanthropic activity picked up again in 2021 with EUR 2,5 million in donations that were almost doubled in 2022 with EUR 4,4 million and have already been surpassed in the first half of 2023 with a total value of EUR 9.6 million.
While we see an increase in the value of donations, there is consistency over the years in the causes and the primary beneficiaries. The top three causes for donations are the eradication of poverty, improving health, and support in service provision for marginalised groups. Children and youth comprise the biggest group of beneficiaries, followed by women in fragile situations, and the elderly.
A significant development trend in Albania is the predominance of donations through online and offline campaigns, besides direct donations. In 2022, about 87% of the total volume of donations was collected this way, while for the first half of 2023, it was 99%. Online platforms like Facebook, Go Fund Me and local platforms like Smile.al, and Albanian Global Foundation are important channels used by individual donors. The number of donors follows the same progression, marking an increase in the number of individuals in philanthropic activity. For us and our work, this marks a significant and encouraging development, which is about increased citizens’ involvement and strengthened human solidarity.
To serve this purpose, Partners Albania, for the last four years, has been organising Giving Circle events. These events bring together individuals from different fields, offering their expertise, time, and financial resources to support concrete causes that bring positive and sustainable transformation for the specific individuals and communities targeted. These causes are proposed by nonprofit organisations working on the ground after a pre-selection done by Partners Albania.
The transition from merely showcasing philanthropy in an award to organising giving circles stemmed from recognising the transformative power and collective impact of community-driven philanthropy. By organising giving circles, the aim was to create a tangible, sustainable framework that enables individuals not only to witness but also to actively participate in the philanthropic process, fostering a greater sense of ownership, connection, and impact within communities.
With the engagement of a loyal and dedicated group of about 125 individuals from different walks of life, 75 businesses and 25 nonprofit organisations, we have tripled the target of EUR 8,600 donations per event from year to year1. Success has to do with the sensitivity of causes, such as providing psychotherapeutic, educational and sports services to 500 children and youngsters from 18 – 25 years old, free dental services for 400 children living in remote areas, recreational facilities for the elderly, etc. The impact of the donations and the transparent lines of communication and accountability established between beneficiaries and donors also contribute to its success. In four years, the giving circles have supported 12 community initiatives in education, environment, health, promotion of human rights, youth activism, sports, and culture. They have directly impacted the lives of more than 1,500 children, youth, and elderly people and have improved various infrastructures by catalysing additional support from local governments and private businesses.
To quote our beloved Albanian Saint, Mother Teresa, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” At Partners Albania, we believe that even small, genuine initiatives can cascade into transformative practices for a broader societal impact.
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1. Partners Albania has been fortunate to be trusted and accompanied in this journey from the early days of 2011 by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. It is because of them we have been able to build this important programmatic area and broaden our alliances with organisations such as WINGS, The Funding Network and more.
Juliana Hoxha is the founding Director of Partners Albania for Change and Development and serves in this position since 2001. She is responsible for the overall strategic direction and management of Partners Albania. In this position, Juliana has spearheaded significant and innovative initiatives that have positively impacted the non-for-profit sector and its support legal framework.
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