Strategic Plan

Mission
Nowadays many nonprofit organizations feature extraordinary causes, but they lack means to realize them. We think research, study and professionalization of the third sector are essential elements in order to maximize nonprofit results. This is why we commit ourselves to improving the performances of nonprofit organizations and profit companies engaged in fundraising and social responsibility programs. We think that a wider and deeper knowledge of fundraising is one of the means to improve our society.
 
Vision
Increase the understanding of fundraising and improve its practice.
 
Goals
Philanthropy Centro Studi concentrates the majority of its efforts in providing free assistance for third sector operators. The main commitments are the following:

• Let the nonprofit become a bridge between research and daily work, theory and practice, academic world and the world of nonprofit and fundraising professionals
• Support the nonprofit culture as an answer to society needs
• Create a solid exchange and cooperation network among the subjects involved in the third sector
• Be creators of trends, innovation and excellence as for all fundraising aspects
• Find reliable and up-to-date information for third sector operators
• Develop social responsibility programs together with the profit world

Values
The work of Philanthropy Centro Studi is characterized by the following values:

• Maximum commitment while respecting laws and common good
• Integrity, openness and honesty in all what we do
• Respect towards the value of each individual and his/her ideas, included staff, teachers, researchers, students, volunteers and donors
• Discretion and maximum privacy while using data provided by people, professionals, donors and nonprofit organizations
• Commitment not to discriminate our staff according to ethnic origin, education, background, gender, sexual orientation and religion, within our programs and research
• Leadership as for research on fundraising which can influence society and sectors involved
• Excellence in research, teaching, training and cooperation relations
• Transparency among staff, in the research sector and in the community

Context
The social sector in Italy is mainly represented by third sector organizations. Nonprofit organizations can be different structures: hospitals, churches, schools, nursery schools, universities, arts centres, environment associations, human rights associations, international cooperation associations. Thanks to fundraising and philanthropic initiatives it is possible to reduce human suffering and maximize human potential through education and training. It is possible to promote concrete values, as fairness and solidarity and to support democratic changes where there is social injustice. Philanthropy Centro Studi works within this context and wishes to be a synonym for change and improvement. The value of Philanthropy Centro Studi lies in the experience and knowledge of the fundraising sector from a practical and theoretical point of view. This value aims at promoting not only research but also the fundraising practice, as we have understood its key role in the development of the third sector in Italy. Philanthropy Centro Studi has also created an information network which aims at being the centre of technical information exchange on fundraising in Italy.
 
Our strong points

• University centre: we are inside the University of Bologna, at the Faculty of Economics of Forlì, fulcrum of an education and specialization activity on fundraising and nonprofit which is unique in Italy.
• Multidisciplinary approach to research: we made and continue to make research in cooperation with other universities and research centres focused on other disciplines. For example, together with the Faculty of Interpreters and Translators, we made a research concerning linguistic occurrence within Italian and United States mailings.
• Quality research: the excellence in research is our strong point. We think it is not important the quantity of data, but the quality and utility of the information we provide through research.
• Integrated approach: through the passing of the years Philanthropy Centro Studi has elaborated a unique model integrating research, training and fundraising practice as to maximize the impact on fundraising professionals and fundraisers. We want that research strengthens the professional practice and professional practice strengthens research.
• Training programs on fundraising: through the passing of the years Philanthropy Centro Studi has built a unique scenario thanks to the experience it has acquired within the professional training field. In fact, within the Master of Fundraising, there are 4 different training programs for fundraisers and fundraising professionals
• Staff, students, and volunteers: the mix of staff, students and volunteers having different education and experience allows research to be stimulated by a fertile soil rich in diversity, confrontation and dialogue.

What do we expect from future
This is a moment of great changes in fundraising and in the nonprofit sector in Italy. These changes will happen only if researchers understand the existing dynamics in the governance of the nonprofit sector and in gifts by the main donors. It is time to apply the too many theories written about gifts, appeals, voluntary work and reports. We require a professional level approach, so that the activities of Philanthropy Centro Studi can be really useful for everyone: students, researchers, nonprofit leaders, philanthropists and also for the life of those who will directly benefit of the fundraising sector improvements. This will happen thanks to a better approach, characterized by more reliability, professionalism and research.