Methodology

There is an undeniable gap between the actual situation and the registered data. It is certain that the registered values underestimate the actual scope and intensity of philanthropic activities.

Apart from the fact that the media does not report on philanthropy comprehensively, the method of media clipping itself cannot be comprehensive, so the assessment of the state of philanthropy is limited by incomplete data.

It is also certain that media reports overestimate the presence of large donors compared to smaller ones and the share of money in the structure of all donations (including goods and services).

Moreover, even if the media reports were comprehensive, there is no methodologically perfect way to control data reliability. However, we partially achieve that control through cross-referencing and verification processes in direct communication with donors and fundraisers.

Giving for the social good without receiving compensation, i.e., the voluntary giving of money, goods, time, or services to help someone or improve society.

The subject of donation, i.e., money, goods, time, and/or services provided voluntarily to those in need, without compensation.

A unique event (i.e., a case of collecting donations). It can consist of single or multiple donations (e.g., a campaign in which citizens collect mass donations for someone's medical treatment). Although shown in aggregate, donation instances are not the same size, so they are difficult to compare.

A private or legal entity that donates money, time, services, and/or goods. To make it easier to follow trends, donors are divided into types.

A type of donor: a large number of citizens who therefore cannot be identified by name.

A type of donor: companies (more than 50 employees), corporate foundations and small and medium enterprises (fewer than 50 employees).

A type of donor: identifiable citizens.

A type of donor: cases in which one donation instance includes several types of donors.

Private and/or legal entities that receive donations directly from donors. The types of recipients are non-profit organizations, individuals and families, public institutions, and local and national authorities. As recipients, individuals and families are mostly beneficiaries of donations, while other types of recipients are often a channel for providing assistance to final beneficiaries.

Target groups for whose benefit the donations are intended. For example, if a particular school is the recipient of a donation, the end-users are pupils of that school.

Target groups that benefit from the use of services for which the local community has received a donation.

The type of effect that the donation intends to achieve. Short-term donations include consumables, materials, and supplies, while long-term donations include capital investments, equipment, and scholarships.

A nonprofit organization (NPO) is a legal entity or an informal group organized and operated for a public or social benefit. A nonprofit is subject to the non-distribution constraint: any revenues that exceed expenses must be committed to the organization’s mission, not taken by private parties. There are different types of nonprofit organizations in Western Balkans, including associations (nongovernmental or civil society organizations that can be domestic, diaspora, or branch offices of foreign associations), foundations (private and corporate), and informal groups.