Philanthropy in Europe

Mapping Research and Data on Donations by Households, Bequests, Corporations, Foundations and Charity Lotteries in Europe.

Philanthropy in Europe is the most comprehensive cross-national mapping of philanthropic giving available in Europe. Produced by the European Research Network on Philanthropy (ERNOP), this initiative brings together scholars from across the continent to provide a structured, comparative overview of philanthropic giving in Europe.

The study maps philanthropic contributions from:

• Households

• Bequests

• Corporations

• Foundations

• Charity lotteries

Beyond estimating giving volumes, the publication critically assesses the quality, availability, and comparability of national data sources, highlighting both what we know — and where significant gaps remain. It shows that while philanthropy plays a substantial role in European societies, data infrastructures remain fragmented and uneven across countries.

Philanthropy in Europe provides:

• A comparative evidence base across 20 European countries

• An overview of national data systems and their strengths and limitations

• Country-level philanthropy profiles on philanthropic sources and goals

• A foundation for future research and improved data collection

The publication serves as both a mapping exercise and a research agenda, identifying priorities for strengthening philanthropy research and data infrastructure in Europe. The full study will be presented during a webinar on March 24, 2026, and released afterwards.

Share your contact details to get the full publication in your inbox or register for the webinar.