“Without philanthropy, the world would look very different”

Studies invariably show that when it comes to giving to charity, the Netherlands is a generous country. The same goes for ABN AMRO’s clients, some 85 per cent of whom regularly give to charity. Frank Aalderinks, head of Philanthropy Advice at ABN AMRO MeesPierson, says, “All those philanthropists out there make a real difference with their donations.”

Which charity?

“Most people wouldn’t consider themselves philanthropists, since we generally associate that word with the very wealthy,” says Kayleigh Boerjan, a Philanthropy Advice specialist. “But a philanthropist is someone who donates their time, money or network to others without expecting anything in return. So you can still be a philanthropist even if you donate small sums of money.”

Giving to charity isn’t always easy, though. The Netherlands alone is home to over 10,000 charitable organisations. Which initiative best aligns with the donor’s objectives? Where exactly does the money end up? And when it comes to larger donations, which way of giving best suits the donor?

ABN AMRO provides insight, advice and guidance to all its clients looking for answers to questions like these. For retail clients, for instance, there’s a website featuring information and tools to help them make decisions about budgeting, planning and choosing a suitable charity based on information from the Central Fundraising Bureau (or Centraal Bureau Fondsenwerving), the Dutch charities regulator. Affluent clients may avail themselves of one-to-one meetings and tailored advice.

Head and heart

“When it comes to large sums of money, the challenges are both bigger and more complex,” explains Frank. “It always starts with the question of who you are and what problems you want to tackle through philanthropy. Are you looking to contribute to nature conservation, poverty reduction or helping to find a treatment for a serious illness close to or far away from home?”

Frank continues, “Sometimes it’s about donating a large sum of money while the individual is alive; sometimes the donor is thinking about a legacy after their death. As you can imagine, these are very personal discussions and often include a partner and any children. Together we make a ‘giving plan’, which creates a point of focus and helps us steer clear of impromptu or impulsive donations to charities.”

Personal motives

When drawing up a donations plan, Frank and Kayleigh advise their clients to keep their personal motives front and centre and to choose effective organisations with a proven track record. “This guarantees that their donation will make a real impact,” says Frank. “Clients spell out in the plan how they wish to give – whether it’s by making a one-off donation, giving annually at regular intervals or including a charity in their will – based on a predefined strategy.”

Clients having received guidance from ABN AMRO Philanthropy Advice specialists donate over EUR 110 million each year to good causes. The bank’s own research shows that its clients feel more confident after consulting the department and end up giving considerably more as a result. Besides advising clients, the department organises networking sessions where philanthropists meet and discuss topics like climate change and equal opportunities. Philanthropy Advice also carries out research and publishes on current trends in philanthropy.

“Ultimately,” says Frank, “what matters to us is that that EUR 110 million a year goes to effective charities. We’re helping clients tackle problems and drive innovation. Without philanthropy, the world would look very different. Philanthropy drives and pushes for change, and that leads to long-term thinking and innovative, less obvious solutions. By offering clients advice on philanthropy, the bank also gives practical meaning to our social role and purpose, ‘Banking for better, for generations to come’.”

Making the world a better place

Having done voluntary work in South Africa, Kayleigh says she knows first hand how important it is that donations are well spent. The “idealistic” organisation she thought she was working for there turned out to be corrupt. “The directors ran off with all the money they had collected. Seeing something like that happen really shakes your faith in humanity. But it’s actually because I also met so many incredibly inspiring people there that I continued to support charities and went on to focus on philanthropy in my studies. Now in the work I do at ABN AMRO, I can use my knowledge to make the world a little better.”

“The great thing about this work,” Frank adds, “is that you get to talk to people on a very personal level about what it is they feel is important in life, and about what they want to leave behind and pass on to future generations. Making a sizeable donation or establishing a fund can be very impactful and starts conversations that don’t necessarily happen every day within the family. Then you can work together towards something positive for today and for the future.”

Would you like to talk to an adviser? Contact Philanthropy Advice. See also Five misconceptions about charities.