Press Releases
USAID Supports Corporate Foundations in Croatia
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Public Affairs Section
Zagreb, Croatia
USAID SUPPORTS CORPORATE FOUNDATIONS IN CROATIA
Zagreb, May 7, 2007 - USAID Mission Director William Jeffers will address representatives of the business sector, government, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at a conference "Foundations - Unused Potential in Croatia". He will be joined by Miodrag Šajatović, Chief Editor of Lider Magazine and Boris Hajos, General Secretary, Croatian Public Relations Association (HUOJ). The conference will take place on Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. at the Regent Esplanade Hotel, Zagreb.
The purpose of this conference is to increase awareness about corporate foundations and to encourage further development of individual and corporate philanthropy. Foundations can provide many benefits if civil society, government and business sector jointly promote improvements in an enabling environment. This can also have an impact on increased support to civil society organizations and improve its financial and organizational sustainability.
The conference will also highlight successful European and Croatian corporate foundation practices, including: Unicredito Foundation (Italy), Deutsche Telecom Stiftung (Germany), Zlata Bartl Foundation (Podravka), and the recently established Adris Foundation (Adris Group).
This conference will try to provide answers to several questions: (1) Why have so few corporate foundations been established in Croatia? (2) What are the benefits of registering a corporate foundation? (3) Why have multinational companies registered foundations in other countries but not in Croatia? (4) Is the legal framework too restrictive? (5) What is the tax framework for foundations in Croatia?
This USAID-funded conference is organized in cooperation with the Academy for Educational Development (AED), and Lider Magazine. After the conference Lider Magazine will publish an article on philanthropy and corporate foundations in their next issue.
This conference is part of USAID's Assistance to Croatian NGOs (CroNGO) program that increases the NGO advocacy capacity, financial viability, organizational capacity and networking. It also promotes the practice of voluntarism and visibility of the sector within Croatian society. Details on these activities are available on www.aed.hr
USAID is the primary assistance organization of the United States Government. Since 1992, the United States has provided over $407 million to Croatia (much of it through USAID programs) to strengthen democratic institutions and assist in postwar reconstruction and the return of refugees, to support de-mining and economic development, and to provide educational and training opportunities. The U.S. has also provided guidance and support to the Croatian judicial and military sectors to further Croatia's integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions.