The Mozaik Foundation together with partner organizations (Hastor Foundation, Pomozi.ba Association, Network for Building Peace, Trag Foundation and Catalyst Balkans) with the financial support of the USAID organized an event for companies and foundations to present the idea of establishing a Philanthropic forum.
The establishment of a Philanthropic forum would contribute to finding faster systemic solutions that can only be reached if all actors unite their resources and work together to remove existing legislative and institutional barriers.
Between 16.9 and 18.6 percent of residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina live below the poverty line
The following information show why a systematic approach to the development of charity is important for the society of Bosnia and Herzegovina in general:
• Between 16.9 and 18.6% of the population in Bosnia and Herzegovina live below the poverty line
• Between 15,000 and 20,000 people eat at soup kitchens daily
• In Bosnia and Herzegovina, about 500 tons of food products are destroyed annually, because their expiration date has expired or is about to expire
• There is no law defining the terms donations and humanitarian aid
• If Companies and organizations want to donate goods or services to those who need them, they must pay VAT on the amount of the donation
• Donations from the BiH diaspora are not possible through the PayPal service.
Philanthropic donations in 2020 amounted to 42.2 million BAM
The Philanthropic forum in Bosnia and Herzegovina would be an informal platform for corporations and foundations, as well as individuals who want to invest in a better society. On the one hand, it would enable the philanthropic community to have more confidence in the giving process and thus allocate more funds. On the other hand, it would also provide recipients of philanthropic benefits with a better quality of life and long-term support.
An interesting fact is that the total amount of philanthropic donations in 2020 amounted to 42.2 million BAM (according to data collected by the Catalyst Foundation). 60% of that amount was donated for the control and treatment of the COVID-19 and the private sector donated about a third of that amount. Company donations could be increased if the legal framework supported and stimulated philanthropic benefits. By joining forces with individuals and foundations, company donations can become simple, more efficient, and more visible.
The Philanthropic forum event was opened by Peter Cronin, Director of the USAID Office for Democratization.
The Philanthropic Forum is part of the “Legal Framework for Philanthropy” Program implemented by the Mozaik Foundation together with partner organizations (Hastor Foundation, Pomozi.ba Association, Network for Building Peace, Trag Foundation and Catalyst Balkans) with financial support from the USAID.
