| Philanthropic money is the major ingredient of Western Europe s rising Civil Society. It contributes substantially to the financing of non-profit initiatives in the field of education, health, culture and society. The philanthropic sector is growing rapidly, and there are at least three explanations for this growth: the increase in personal wealth after WWII, demographic developments (ageing and reduced births), and the withdrawing of the government from the philanthropic sector. Next to the United States, the Netherlands is the only country for which the macro-economic volume of the philanthropic sector is systematically described. This research is conducted by the research programme 'Philanthropic Studies' at the VU University Amsterdam. Since 1995 the department publishes every two-year a volume of "Giving in the Netherlands": an overview of the philanthropic sector in the Netherlands. The research programme 'Philanthropic Studies' intends to enhance scholars interests by studying the content and determinants of philanthropic efforts at individual, organisational (corporate social responsibility; foundations, fundraising and grant making organisations) and policy level (civil society). |
