Social Work, the Strength of Commitment to Society

More than 800 million euros is the investment made by the Social Work of the CECA sector in the last financial year, making it an indispensable part of building a more inclusive society, as well as serving as a complement to the programs of public administrations and the welfare state. The Social Work of the CECA sector is a fundamental tool in the fight against inequality, social exclusion, and the risk of poverty, always from a strong commitment to a fairer and more equitable society.

A commitment that dates back to the 18th century, when the first charitable social entities emerged to lend a hand to the most disadvantaged. Today, it has become the leading private social investor in Spain, and its charitable-social origin remains the ideological foundation, adapted to the current values guiding the actions of the entities that comprise it. CECA (the association representing CaixaBank, Kutxabank, Cajasur Banco, ABANCA, Unicaja, Ibercaja Banco, Caixa Ontinyent, Colonya Pollença, Cecabank, and more than thirty foundations), also participates in multiple national and international forums, from which it disseminates and promotes the activity of the Social Work with a sectoral approach.

With its closeness to the community, especially to families and vulnerable groups, the Social Work reaches the places where it is most needed, thanks to its capacity for empathy and the collaboration and outreach of its entities. In the last year, they developed 81,000 activities that reached more than 30 million beneficiaries.

For a Fairer Society

Behind each of its initiatives, there are committed individuals and teams with an unbreakable vocation for service. Their daily work and dedication are reflected in those who truly matter: the beneficiaries of the programs. Their activities also reinforce the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in which CECA, as a member of the United Nations Global Compact, is proud to contribute day by day. To achieve this, the Social Work establishes strategic alliances with organizations and institutions, while promoting the use of sustainable products and services and carrying out activities for the conservation and development of natural environments, in line with respect for the environment and the fight against climate change.

The Social Work deploys its impact in many fields. In the social area, its work is aimed at improving the quality of life of the most disadvantaged groups, promoting social development and driving assistance programs for a more equitable society.

Equally important is the work done in the area of local development and job creation, where it energizes the territory and supports the productive fabric. Through constant dialogue with stakeholders, it addresses challenges such as employment, training, entrepreneurship, and support for SMEs, freelancers, and local commerce, especially in rural areas.

Support for Education and Culture

Support for education and research holds a fundamental place in the Social Work, which promotes innovation and financial literacy as tools for progress and social integration. With training programs, scientific research, and R&D, it fosters financial inclusion, facilitating financial access for all groups, especially for the most disadvantaged. Its commitment to financial education helps citizens make informed decisions and promotes equality of opportunity and economic growth.

In the cultural and heritage sector, it supports culture as an element of social cohesion and a driver of transformation. Likewise, it works on the conservation of heritage, respecting history and contributing to the integration of all territories and people. In the area of sports and leisure, it promotes sports as a tool for inclusion and a vehicle for necessary values for society, thus aligning with the principles of the Social Work: dedication, effort, overcoming, and teamwork.

A Decade of Changes

Ten years ago, the Social Work of the CECA sector began a new stage, marked by the restructuring of the sector following Law 26/2013, of December 27, on Savings Banks and Banking Foundations. This legislative change, one of the most significant in the last decade, represented a turning point for both the Social Work and the foundations, promoting transparency, efficiency, and greater professionalization of its teams and boards, in addition to strengthening alliances to bring the Social Work to every corner of the territory.

Furthermore, this new law allowed for a structural reform of savings banks, facilitating their integration into larger and more solvent groups, placing the new banks on equal footing with other credit institutions in terms of recapitalization and access to the stock market. At the same time, the Social Work was preserved through foundations that became professional managers of this work, thus ensuring the continuity of its historic mission: to generate opportunities for progress for individuals, while fighting against inequality and social exclusion.

Throughout this time, society has faced significant challenges, from a pandemic to a war in Europe, along with humanitarian crises, natural disasters, and geopolitical changes. Despite global instability, the Social Work has allocated a larger percentage of investment to the most disadvantaged groups. Between 2014 and 2023, it reached 7.823 billion euros, with more than 930,000 activities that annually reached an average of 31 million beneficiaries.