European Philanthropy Amounts to at Least €104.5 Billion Annually
ERNOP study maps giving across 23 countries and highlights major data gaps
Amsterdam, 24 March 2026 — Philanthropic giving across 23 European countries amounts to at least €104.5 billion annually, according to Philanthropy in Europe, a new study by the European Research Network on Philanthropy (ERNOP). Based on the best available data from 2022 on contributions from households, bequests, corporations, foundations, and charity lotteries, the study provides the most comprehensive comparative overview of philanthropic giving currently available across Europe, including 20 detailed country reports.
The previous Giving in Europe study (2017) estimated philanthropic giving at €87.5 billion in 2013. While differences in data availability and methodology limit direct comparison, the updated figures underline both the scale of philanthropy in Europe and the importance of continued investment in data infrastructure.
The study arrives at a critical moment. Across Europe and beyond, geopolitical instability, armed conflict, economic pressure, and shifting political priorities are placing new demands on civil society. As governments reassess their commitments and public funding for social and humanitarian causes comes under pressure, the role of private initiative — through individuals, corporations, and foundations — has rarely been more consequential. Against this backdrop, the scale of philanthropic giving documented in this study is both striking and timely.
While geopolitical tensions and armed conflict dominate headlines, philanthropy remains an important expression of what Europeans care about and how they choose to contribute to society.
Download the full Open Access publication:
https://ernop.eu/philanthropy-in-europe-4/
Key findings
The study, edited by Barry Hoolwerf and Johan Vamstad and drawing on the expertise of nearly 50 researchers, finds that:
- Household givingis the largest and best-documented source of philanthropy, totalling €52 billion across Europe
- Corporate givingamounts to €21.5 billion, though the true figure is likely considerably higher
- Foundation givingreaches €20.6 billion, with Germany and Switzerland home to the most active foundation sectors
- Bequestscontribute €8.4 billion and remain significantly under-measured across most of Europe
- Charity lotteriesgenerate €1.9 billion, concentrated in a small number of countries including the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden
The study also maps how philanthropic resources are directed toward a wide range of causes, including health, social services, education, culture, environment, international aid, and community initiatives.
A study of both giving and knowledge
Beyond its headline figures, the report provides a systematic assessment of data quality across Europe. The €104.5 billion estimate is a lower-bound figure, with significant amounts of giving remaining invisible due to data gaps and inconsistencies.
The study shows that differences between countries often reflect differences in data infrastructure as much as differences in generosity.
“Building on our 2017 Giving in Europe study, this publication again maps the scale of philanthropic giving across Europe. What emerges is a picture of considerable variety and resilience in how philanthropy is expressed across countries. At the same time, our ability to understand it remains uneven — and in some cases appears to be weakening. The gaps in our data are not a footnote; they are a central finding. Strengthening Europe’s philanthropic data infrastructure is not a technical ambition — it is a prerequisite for informed public debate, effective policy, and the long-term development of the sector.”
— Barry Hoolwerf, Director, ERNOP, and co-editor of Philanthropy in Europe
About the publication
Philanthropy in Europe: Mapping Research and Data on Donations by Households, Bequests, Foundations, Corporations and Charity Lotteries is published by ERNOP (ISBN: 978-90-9041791-2) and is freely available as an Open Access PDF. It builds on the methodology of ERNOP’s 2017 Giving in Europe study, extending it with updated data, new country analyses, and a systematic assessment of data quality.
The volume includes:
- 20 national country reports authored by leading philanthropy researchers
- comparative analyses of five major sources of giving
- a structured assessment of data quality across Europe
Register to received the full report
https://www.formdesk.com/vuamsterdam/FullPhilanthropyinEurope
Download the Executive Summary:
https://ernop.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Factsheet-Philanthropy-in-Europe-2026-web.pdf
About ERNOP
The European Research Network on Philanthropy (ERNOP) connects researchers and practitioners across Europe to advance comparative research on philanthropy and charitable giving. Through cross-national collaboration and evidence-based dialogue, ERNOP works to strengthen understanding of philanthropy’s role in European societies.