An opportunity to make your mark
Introduction
We are a generous nation. The Irish response to disasters such as the Ethiopian famine and the Asian tsunami have shown that Ireland can mobilise its wealth and its people to assist those in need. Our time commitment to charitable causes is also significant, with 23% of Irish people engaging in regular voluntary work. With the recent increase in the country’s economic wealth, there is a real opportunity to build on this generosity to address a variety of challenges and opportunities in society.
To date, many individuals and families have provided significant support to charitable organisations through one-off donations or ad hoc support. Less frequent is planned giving or philanthropy where giving is strategic, more structured and often on a longer term basis. We hope that this guide will help you to find out more about the options for philanthropic giving in Ireland. It has been produced by Philanthropy Ireland, with generous support from AIB Group.
“Philanthropy: an opportunity to make your mark” has been produced for donors, those who intend to give, wealth advisors and anyone with an interest in the area. It includes a framework for giving, discusses current trends in philanthropy, as well as providing a snapshot on tax and legal issues relevant to philanthropic giving in Ireland. The mission of Philanthropy Ireland is to represent, develop and inspire an effective and robust philanthropic sector in Ireland.
We will continue to update our Web site with the latest information, resources and advice on giving. Our Directory of Philanthropy, which has been prepared in parallel to this guide, is also available free online. Please contact us at any stage if you require additional information or would like to learn more about any of the issues raised in this publication.
- Jackie Harrison, Chief Executive, Philanthropy Ireland
