Middle Income Countries: Hungary

Abstract

The consultation addressed the trends, opportunities and challenges for the future of philanthropy in Middle Income Countries . Trends which can be observed are: growing local resource mobilisation; greater use of new technologies; continued lack of a culture of giving; lack of credibility of the non-profit sector; no tax deductions or complicated procedures for charitable giving; suspicion by government of foreign funding; greater involvement of younger people in decision-making.

The opportunities identified included: growing citizen participation; solidarity through social networks; exponential growth in use of social networking; increased entrepreneurship; greater emphasis on non-profit impact and investment; youth leadership; withdrawal of government and international funding; ‘clean’ corporate culture; favourable legal environment for philanthropy; growth of the non-profit sector; importance of civil society; positive resonances of ‘charity’ in religion/ culture.