Long-term effects donations are a powerful force for creating sustainable change and addressing the root causes of social issues.
These donations focus on strategic solutions that have a lasting impact and aim to tackle the underlying systemic issues that perpetuate social challenges rather than simply addressing their symptoms. Long-term donations enable the development of sustainable programs, such as education and skills training, infrastructure improvement, and capacity building. By prioritizing long-term effects giving, community members can create a ripple effect of positive change that extends far beyond the initial contribution, leaving a lasting legacy of social progress.
What is the situation with the long-term effects giving in Kosovo?
According to Catalyst’s Balkans data, short-term effect donations are the dominant type, but actors in the philanthropy ecosystem in Kosovo also give strategically. From the beginning of 2020 to the end of 2022, citizens and companies in Kosovo donated more than 13,870,352 euros through 2,676 donation instances, of which 5,367,352 euros and 459 philanthropy actions were strategic giving.
Causes that were supported the most through long-term donations in the period 2020-2022 were: education (1,1 million euros donated), healthcare (1,2 million euros), social entrepreneurship (1 million euros), and support for marginalized groups (960 thousand euros).
Read the rest of the article for success stories and examples of long-term giving in Kosovo. If you missed our article about short-term donations, you can read it here.
Giving for Education in Kosovo
Catalyst Balkans data show that education has been one of the most supported causes through the years. We already wrote the blog on how Kosovo supports education, and now you can learn more about strategic support.
Giving for education has been the most intense in 2020, when more than 7.7 million euros were raised to overcome the effects of lockdowns and interrupted school terms. One of the strategic donations that stood out was a support for the Municipal Directorate of Education in Prizren provided by Raiffeisen Bank. The bank donated tablets and school equipment for children from families with economic difficulties. The donation contained 151 tablets and 275 school bags with supplies. The donation was part of the Raiffeisen Bank Foundation, Stepic CEE Charity, in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between UNICEF and Raiffeisen Bank to increase cooperation in promoting issues of social importance and child care.
In 2021 and 2022, KEDS donated computers and accompanying equipment for the primary school "Dëshmorët e Vitisë," the primary school "Xhavit Syla," and the primary school "Astrit Bytyçi". Thanks to these donations, schools created computer labs and provided more accessible learning for students during IT classes.
Strategic donations to support healthcare
Healthcare has been a highly supported cause since the beginning of Catalyst Balkans' philanthropy research in Kosovo, but the level of support was the highest in the pandemic year when more than 1.5 million euros were donated. One of these donations was provided by IPKO. The company donated the device for diagnosing malignant diseases worth 15 thousand euros to the Oncology Clinic to support bettering the hospital's capacities to treat its patients.
The same year, the Labinot Tahiri Foundation allocated 20,000 euros to purchase oxygen cylinders for Kosovo hospitals. The amount was used to buy the 20 pieces of equipment delivered to hospitals throughout Kosovo.
The Labinot Tahiri Foundation also accepted a donation from the Sweeden diaspora, an auto ambulance valued at 10,000 euros. It was delivered to the Main Family Medicine Center in Podujevo to treat the patients better and react faster to emergencies.
During the pandemic, the Institute of Pathology at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo was equipped with an automatic analyzer and reagent, enabling the analysis of In Situ Hybridization, an auxiliary method for diagnosing breast cancer, worth about 80 thousand euros. This device and the necessary reagents were donated through the association "Jeta Vita," led by Nafije Latifi, with Swissmed and ROCHE.
"ASB" NGO provided the donation that stood out in the year behind us. The organization donated 11,500 euros to purchase necessary medical equipment and devices for the Main Family Medicine Center under the Directorate of Health in Mitrovicë.
Support for social entrepreneurship - the donation that changed the image of philanthropy in 2021
One of the most prominent donation instances of 2021 in terms of the donated amount was the Golden Eagle Foundation and Frutex’s project of opening a new social enterprise: a factory for paper and packaging.
The main goal of this project was to encourage the inclusion of people with disabilities by employing them to work in the factory. Initial plans were to employ 30 people, with the number of employees increasing in the future. The Frutex Company financed the project, and the total cost value was million euros.
Support to marginalized groups
Support for marginalized groups has consistently been one of the key causes supported in Kosovo. One of the few examples of long-term donations for this area is the one when in 2021, Gold Gym & Healthy Food, with owner Diamant Paçarizi donating two pieces of fitness equipment to the Physiotherapy Department at Home for the Elderly Balkans Orphans.
Conclusion
There is a positive trend in the strategic approach to giving in Kosovo, demonstrating a recognition of the importance of addressing root causes and implementing sustainable programs. By prioritizing long-term effects giving, individuals and organizations in Kosovo can contribute to lasting change and profoundly impact society.
If you want to learn more about philanthropy and donations in Kosovo from 2015 until now, try the Giving Kosovo web application and get a bigger picture of the culture of giving in Kosovo.
This article is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Catalyst Balkans and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
The Citizen Engagement Activity in Kosovo is a five-year initiative implemented by Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
