Generosity in Latin America and the Caribbean

• In Event: Fascinating and Under-explored philanthropy

Abstract

The 33 countries and 15 territories that make up Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are home to over 650 million people who speak dozens of languages and many more dialects.

It is a huge and diverse part of the world, but unlike other regions it doesn’t come together as a cohesive unit , and it is rarely studied as one. This is also true when we investigate the philanthropic sector and what we know about the third sector and voluntarism in the region.

There’s no single study of philanthropy in LAC region. The Nonprofit Comparative Project (NCP), led by the late Lester Salamon and Helmut K. Anheier got close by studying many of the countries in the region. However, even the NCP did not provide a regional perspective on philanthropy and did not engage with less formal expressions of generosity in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Most recently, several global reports provide useful references: the World Giving Index, by the UK based Charities Aid Foundation, and the Global Philanthropy Environment Index, by Indiana University (USA) stand out. But, they are produced by international actors and once again, neither produce a regional look into LAC, using isolated data points but drawing no links between them.

In the paper we draw from existing research on global, regional and local philanthropy to bring a Latin American and the Caribbean perspective on the philanthropic sector.

Through a literature review, we review the socioeconomic context in which giving takes place, before surveying the patterns of formal philanthropy (the nonprofit sector) and other giving practices across the region. We then present a country-by-country review of giving trends and participation through the lens of the philanthropic environment and giving behaviors, again drawing on existing research.

We believe that this paper will be of great significance for future studies of philanthropy in Latin America and the Caribbean. On one hand, it presents and enables all types of actors in the philanthropy ecosystem to make use of the data that is already available.It will be of particular use to those unfamiliar with Latin America and the Caribbean, or who wish to establish comparisons with other continents or regions. Moreover, it shines a light on thethe lack of data we have in the region and, we hope will encourage academics to fill in the blanks and collaborate to generate greater knowledge about philanthropy in Latin America and the Caribbean.

References

Aninat, M, Vallespin, R, Villar, R (2022). Rules and Incentives: Mapping the Legal Framework for Non-profit Organisations and Philanthropy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Wings, CEFIS & IUPI

Global Philanthropy Environment Index. IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (2022)

Salamon, L. M., Sokolowski, S. W., & Haddock, M. A. (2017). Explaining civil society development: A Social Origins Approach. John Hopkins University Press.

Salamon, L.M, Anheier, H., & Toepler, S. (1999). Global Civil Society: Dimensions of the nonprofit sector. The Johns Hopkins University.

World Giving Index. Charities Aid Foundation (2022)

Authors

• Joao Paulo de Andrade Vergueiro, FGVFECAP

• Anita Gallagher, Cerrada de Azares #94