The Fondation de Luxembourg has published its 2021 Annual Report, announcing that it reached the €300 million mark in philanthropic commitments in 2021.

The Fondation de Luxembourg is a public utility foundation created by the Luxembourg State and the Œuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte in December 2008, with the mission of promoting philanthropy.

Since its launch thirteen years ago, the Fondation de Luxembourg has noted a growing interest in long-term philanthropy, an interest that has been further strengthened by the pandemic. As of 2021, the Foundation had overseen the creation of 99 foundations under its aegis, and the symbolic milestone of 100 foundations was reached at the beginning of 2022.

Faced with the challenges of the crisis, many philanthropists chose to increase their contributions this year. This upward trend was also reflected in the nearly 10% increase from 2020 to 2021 in cross-border donations through the Transnational Giving Europe network, of which the Fondation de Luxembourg is a member.

The Fondation has a growing number of Luxembourg and international donors, and almost half of the founders of its foundations reside outside Luxembourg's borders, notably in France, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom and even in South Africa.

Considering the scope of the projects supported, the President of the Fondation de Luxembourg, Henri Grethen, stressed: "real change comes from successful collaborations between civil society, governments, international organisations and the private sector. The Fondation de Luxembourg is uniquely positioned to bring these forces together for the benefit of the most vulnerable members of society."

Of the more than 300 projects supported in 2021 across five themes and 52 countries, Health and Research-themed projects received the largest amounts, and the same record level of support as during the 2020 health crisis (41% of all funding). At the same time, Universal Education projects, particularly those related to inclusion of disadvantaged youth, received increased interest in 2021, a welcome response to the learning disruptions following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Examples of projects supported in 2021 include the launch of the Science for Society Prize to combat the spread of "fake news", as well as a national initiative to screen Luxembourg schoolchildren for hypercholesterolemia, funded by the Fondation Cœur Daniel Wagner. In the field of youth education and integration, the Eduq Foundation launched several projects, notably to reduce school dropout rates in vulnerable communities in Europe, while the Piou Redo Foundation supported the creation of a cultural center in Marrakech, offering new perspectives to disadvantaged youth through its activities.

Tonika Hirdman, Director General of the Fondation de Luxembourg, commented: "I am proud that we have reached the milestone of €300 million dedicated to philanthropy. These commitments allow us to provide a strong and innovative response to the current challenges facing our society. They also demonstrate the relevance and attractiveness of our structured philanthropy model."

Looking ahead to 2022, the Fondation anticipates the modernisation of the legal framework guiding the non-profit sector in Luxembourg, thanks to a new bill on foundations and associations. These long-awaited changes will strengthen Luxembourg as a destination of choice for philanthropy.

In addition, in response to the war in Ukraine, the Fondation de Luxembourg has mobilised for the benefit of war victims through its recently launched Ukraine Solidarity Foundation, which is open to external donors. Through this initiative, the sum of €150,000 has already been committed to emergency projects in Luxembourg and areas affected by the war.

The full 2021 annual report is available online via: www.fdlux.lu/en/page/annual-reports.