Foundation
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
The efficacy of philanthropy.The value added by Foundations
Starting from 1990 until today, regardless of the legislative difficulties which, as yet, have not been entirely overcome, foundations of all kinds have played a leading role in the third sector which, together with the State and the market has gradually become an important partner in the building of a new welfare system. This system restores the European philanthropic traditions whereby schools, universities, hospitals, assistance services and charitable deeds for children and youths were created almost everywhere. Italy, together with other advanced nations, is now challenged to reconsider the idea and limits of their welfare systems, even by acknowledging the growing importance of the constitutional principle of subsidiarity, in both a horizontal and vertical meaning. It appears increasingly that the direction to take should be a transition from a Welfare State to a Welfare Community in which the State, individuals and non profit organizations provide equal services in order to make them efficient and competitive, even in terms of costs, from which citizens may choose. In this context, together with other parties in the third sector, the former banking foundations and those which like Fondazione Roma may now be defined as foundations established under civil law (having seceded from their endower banks and focused their attention and energy entirely upon philanthropic activities of social importance), increasingly occupy the fields which are not presided by public institutions or the market. Due to their expertise and adequate financial resources these foundations are referents for the planning and organisation of high quality social projects which are not greeted by other economic parties.
Due to their long philanthropic tradition, Foundations are indeed eligible to become discreet, loyal and reliable partners of the State and local governments and of those private concerns that demonstrate their ability to add more value in terms of planning and financial resources in order to jointly build a new social security network which, with adequate tools and at sustainable costs, is capable of facing the challenges arising from the radical change in the local and global environment.
As much as our frail social security system is still worthy of not being set aside or dismantled, in the light of the most serious economic crisis in recent history it must be remodelled, updated and planned in a way that citizens may be directly involved in the management of public resources. An extensive meditation of this issue lead to the publication of my last book entitled ‘Il terzo pilastro. Il non profit motore del nuovo welfare (The third pillar. Non profit organisations, driver of the new welfare system), in which I have elaborated a plan, proving the legitimacy and feasibility, whereby the third sector - composed of a variety of associations, foundations, non-governmental organizations, social cooperatives and firms, voluntary organisations and non profit making organizations for community work – could indeed be the new component that has the proficiency of ensuring a positive way out of the crisis of the Welfare State. I do believe that the ‘Third Pillar’ is actually this plural universe which may contribute to the building of a less expensive and more efficient Welfare Community.
Seen from this perspective, the State would no longer directly manage and provide services, though it would be in charge of strategic decisions and fundamental projects and supervise that quality standards and the Italian National Health Service’s principles of universality be met. In order to actually accomplish the Welfare Community project there are, in my opinion, two indispensable conditions: a coherent legal context, that enhances and reinforces the principle of subsidiarity, and the third sector’s agreed and determined effort to overcome its critical state by improving, for example, organizational management, professional training of human resources and trying to be more independent from political influence and outside funding, so as stakeholders may consider it a legitimate social infrastructure.
In this context the Fondazione Roma is playing an essential role. This foundation, which I have the honour to Chair, is an institution with a long and stable tradition and an original expression of the civil society’s independency and spirit of initiative. After exhausting legal battles, judgement number 300 delivered by the Constitutional Court in 2003 authoritatively recognized, once and for all, the role of civil society and established the principle according to which there is a field of activity, function and interest that does not belong either to the State nor the market and private enterprise, since it belongs to the plural and well organised intermediate society that is supervised by various kinds of organisations which have been called “bodies for the organisation of social freedom”.
The Fondazione Roma, the largest foundation in Italy with a membership, is fully entitled to be included amongst said organisers and is part of the embryo of a new ruling class that has precise distinguishing features: it originates from the civil society and whilst having an excellent knowledge of the local area is also able to look beyond the boundaries and interlink worldwide.
All the Foundation’s activities aim to support the development of the home area in strategic sectors such as Health, Scientific Research, Art and Culture, Education and Aid to the underprivileged and to form a network with other public and private institutions. The Foundation has successfully challenged the changes in the social environment by updating its tools and reviewing the operative model which provides for complex and long term projects to be accomplished alone or with third parties.
This decision was made on the awareness that the Foundation should no longer merely issue grants since requests should be steered and talents and projects coming from the civil society that may add value to the community must be encouraged.
The ambition to manage the operative model on a broader scale arose from the Foundation’s experience in the local area, ability to analyse the issues therein and plan concrete projects. Thus the Foundation has managed to associate the updated version of involvement with the decision to represent a ‘think tank’ for ideas and projects related to the most widespread issues of our times.
This insight has proved to be rewarding, as demonstrated by the success of the World Social Summit which the Fondazione Roma promoted for the purpose of analysing the many issues that affect social progress on an international scale. The summit opened a worldwide debate between Nobel Prize laureates, academics, business people and representatives of national and international institutions. The first edition, held in 2008, was entitled ‘Fearless: discussion on how to combat global anguish’ and laid the foundations for further action in order to create a future society that will know how to improve its management of fear.
The Fondazione Roma Mediterraneo, established in 2008 by the Fondazione Roma for the purpose of fostering economic, social and cultural development in Mediterranean countries, is also intended as a dynamic ‘think tank’ capable of accomplishing innovative projects such as the International Conference ‘Mediterraneo: porta d’Oriente (The Mediterranean. Gateway to the East)’ held in Palermo in May 2010 that, attended by experts, investigators and business and institutional representatives, addressed crucial themes related to the development of the relationship between Italy (particularly Rome), the Mediterranean and the East.
Due to its history and roots in the neighbourhood, the Foundation plays a dual role: catalyst for local development and advocate of social progress, setting an instructive example for other non profit organisations which may become aware of subsidiarity and increase best practices.
A well governed private institution with solid assets, the Fondazione Roma certainly represents a model, capable of enhancing the network of non profit organisations and entering into forms of partnership between all the organisations, including for profit enterprises, which wish to engage in the difficult challenge of refashioning a suitable social security structure.
Again the main endeavour is to implement targeted concrete projects which provide effective aid and are capable of answering the increasing urgencies in the area according to the principles of subsidiarity, knowing that, however great, the resources available are inadequate to the definite solution of complex and wide spread social problems.
Moreover, this highly exacting task is mainly performed in a city such as Rome which, whilst having many of the problems common to other large metropolitan areas not least those connected with the large flows of immigrants coming from the underdeveloped areas of the world, is also the cradle of Western civilization, has an impressive archaeological, architectural and artistic heritage, the Vatican and is the centre of Christianity and capital city of Italy. All of these considerations make us feel even more responsible to jointly support the efforts to make the city increasingly welcoming, united, prosperous and efficient. It is therefore for Rome and the entire Region of Lazio that our Foundation faces the challenge of being a dynamic laboratory of ideas and plans, a serious and reliable interlocutor for any party who wishes to contribute to the above mentioned mission, a ‘centre’ conceived and created to enhance all initiatives, whether they come from inside or outside or from private or public institutions, providing they are in harmony with the ambitious aims that the Foundation wishes to pursue.
We are proudly and realistically certain that the difficult challenge ahead shall be met.
Professor Emmanuele Francesco Maria Emanuele