Italy: Transparency pays

It?s a question of feeling, not money. Those who give their own resources away for a collective good, in any form, do so on the basis of trust more than anything else? ?I give if I know and if I trust?. The latest confirmation comes from the recently published results on the Italian cinque per mille (?5 thousandths? income tax donations) for the year 2005: the vast majority of donors made sure they knew where their money was going by choosing the organisation and indicating its tax code rather than allocating their cinque per mille (that is to say, 5 thousandths of their total income tax) to a general category such as ?research? ?development? or the ?environment?. Donors give to those they know, those whom society knows for their seriousness and transparency. But reputation is not something that can be given, it is gained through the recognition given by others. Others, like the Italian Institute for donations, that, on the 30th October is organising the second national conference on giving (in Rome, piazza Montecitorio 123/a).

The conference marks yet another step that this organisation is taking to promote a more transparent awareness regarding the practices of giving. Since 1999 they have been promoting a Donor's Charter that is based around the idea of transparency both as a right and a duty: ?Donors have the right to receive exhaustive information on the mission and ends that the organisation is pursuing and on the results they have achieved with the donations that were made? says the charter.

Franco Vannini, an advisor and manager for the Institute, adds that: ?Over the past few years there has been a constant increase in donations. This trend has also been confirmed by research carried out within Solidas? partner associations; the results of the research will be announced at the conference in Rome. What they highlight is that there is a more favourable attitude towards organisations that are certified by the Institute?.

But it isn?t just about being certified. ?Medium sized organisations have understood that by following the Charter efficiency and efficacy are also increased?, adds Vannini. Activities and efficacy that must then be communicated: ?Which is why we have dedicated the conference to communication. It is a vitally important theme, as the real question is ? how can we make ourselves be appreciated? ? and we must never stop asking it?.

More info:
www.istitutoitalianodonazione.it