Assifero

The reference point of Italian philanthropy

Who we are

Assifero is the Italian association of foundations and philanthropic organisations and the reference point for philanthropy in Italy. Our membership includes family, corporate, community foundations, centuries-old philanthropic organisations, and new evolving kinds of philanthropic organisations. They differ in mission, geographical focus, size and areas of intervention, and work for the common good listening to territories and communities, identifying needs and potentials, and activating long-term processes of human and sustainable development.​

We promote and facilitate collaboration and connections at Italian and European level, disseminate good practices and innovative approaches, increase the circulation of information, and foster opportunities for exchange and dialogue in order to build critical mass together, scale bettering practices, and strengthen the impact as well as the capacity for representation and policy proposal of Italian philanthropy.

Vision and mission

Assifero fosters an Italian philanthropic system able to contribute to a just, equitable and pluralistic society centred on people and planet, in the interest of future generations.

Assifero works every day to develop an increasingly aware, informed, connected and effective philanthropic system for our country, enabling philanthropy to fully express its transformative and generative role.

Statutory activities

We are committed to supporting the requests of our members and to contributing to the development, strengthening and promotion of the Italian philanthropic system, by carrying out activities of coordination, safeguard, representation, promotion and support to the member foundations and philanthropic organisations and to their general interest activities, enhancing the representativeness of the philanthropic system with institutional actors and international networks.

HOW WE WORK

Since 2017, Assifero has adopted the 4Cs +1 strategic approach, a reference framework for philanthropy support and development organisations, developed by WINGS and DAFNE – Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe (now Philea) through a collective and participatory effort. The framework is articulated across five dimensions.

For the 2025–2029 mandate, Assifero structures its action, through the 4Cs +1 strategic approach, around five strategic priorities:

  1. strategic issue-based missions stewarded by members of the Board of Directors

  2. knowledge development and strengthening within the philanthropic system

  3. institutional recognition, advocacy and good lobby strengthening & alliance-building;

  4. membership qualitative and quantitative growth and community-building;

  5. internal organisational development.

Within this framework, seven strategic missions have been established:

  • Strategic issue-based mission on youth and education (F. Campora) 
  • Strategic issue-based mission on social-health and relationship with the Third Sector (F. Serra)
  • Strategic issue-based mission on national cohesion (S. Consiglio) 
  • Strategic issue-based mission on culture of legality, gender equity and the prevention of gender-based violence (G. Minoli)
  • Strategic issue-based mission on fiscal and legal enabling environment and the development of self-government function as a National PIO (F. Scalvini)
  • Strategic issue-based mission on venture philanthropy and social finance (G. Giunta)
  • Strategic issue-based mission on relationship development with religious institutions and congregations (M. Cappella)

 

Read more on the 2025-2029 Strategic Framework

Assifero's work is guided by the values of trust, plurality, responsibility, collaboration, independence and innovation.​

Its members identify with the principles enshrined in the Charter of Principles of Accountability, recognising their value-based, cultural, strategic and operational contribution to the pursuit of their respective missions. These principles constitute the shared ground on which foundations and philanthropic organisations base their action, while fully respecting their distinct identities, autonomy and missions.

Read the Charter of Principles and Accountability (in Italian)

Assifero was founded in 2000 with the idea of creating a specific space dedicated to foundations within the Third Sector, building a common identity and a capacity for collective action to exponentially increase the impact of individuals.

  • 2003: Assifero - Italian Association of Foundations and Grant-making Organisations is founded
  • 2016: Assifero changes its name and statute and becomes Assifero - Italian Association of Foundations and Institutional Philanthropy Organisations
  • 2017: The reform of the Third Sector and the Third Sector Code come into force, which, among others, provide for the introduction and recognition of philanthropic organisations
  • 2021: The Unified Register of the Third Sector (RUNTS) becomes operational. Assifero changes its name, becoming Assifero – Italian Association of Foundations and Philanthropic Organisations and adopts the new statute to register to the RUNTS as a network association
  • 2023: Assifero registers to the RUNTS and is recognized as a network association