Individuals and businesses alike have increasing resources and motivation to tackle the most pressing social and environmental challenges and are putting sustainable development and social responsibility higher and higher on their agendas.
Slovenia stands out in terms of awareness-raising in the field of social responsibility compared to other countries, but it has yet to reach its potential, and with the right motivation, Slovenian citizens would donate more – more than twice as much as they currently do. Action by governments and public administrations is necessary to build a supportive ecosystem of social impact, but it is businesses that are the biggest drivers of change, according to 6 out of 10 CEE citizens. 44% of Slovenians have already chosen products and services offered by socially responsible brands, and 35% are willing to pay more for them. Although Slovenians currently spend €41 million on philanthropic activities, our potential is much higher – €105 million. These are the conclusions of the survey “Philanthropy in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) 2022”, conducted by the Social Impact Alliance for Central & Eastern Europe in June 2022 among the population of Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania. In Slovenia, the survey was conducted in cooperation with AmCham Slovenia, Ketler and Partners and with the support of Google. org.
“Today, more than ever, businesses have a responsibility for the environment, society, governance, and technology (ESGT). With the right and structured approach, increasingly aware employees, investors, and consumers, and a few legislative changes, Slovenia can realize its potential and further expand its social impact,” said Ajša Vodnik, CEO of AmCham Slovenia and Vice President of AmChams in Europe.
How to strengthen the ecosystem of social impact and enable more informed, intentional, and impactful giving in Slovenia?
The answers are in the report “Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility in Central and Eastern Europe SLOVENIA”, which highlights the lack of systematized knowledge and the need for comprehensive education as key barriers; a silo approach to social issues; limited activity by support organizations; low tax incentives for donors and the absence of additional incentives for corporate donors in public procurement law.
“Businesses and individuals are increasingly willing to commit their resources – money, time, and skills – to tackle the most pressing social and environmental challenges. It is in everyone’s interest to make their job easier. We hope that the recommendations we have made in our report for Slovenia will help them to set priorities and take appropriate action,” said Anna Korzeniewska, founder of the Social Impact Alliance for Central & Eastern Europe.