Social Work of the CECA Sector: Between Vocation and Philanthropy

Philanthropy is a driving force that moves a significant part of the world. There is no doubt that the catalytic role of the philanthropic sector is fundamental to promote positive changes and create lasting effects in society, contributing to addressing challenges of general interest. In Europe, the welfare state has been complemented by philanthropic actions. As such, European philanthropy has shaped itself through the relationship between the State, the private sector, NGOs, and foundations.

The Royal Spanish Academy defines philanthropy as “love for humankind.” Along these lines, we can say that philanthropists are individuals or institutions that are characterized by developing projects with social purposes and promoting initiatives for the good of the community at the local, national, or international level. Thus, they actively dedicate their time, resources, and efforts to support causes and projects that contribute to the well-being and progress of humanity. Therefore, we could define philanthropic foundations as those non-profit organizations whose ultimate goal is to altruistically help people.

Social and Economic Contribution

According to the Analysis of the Economic and Social Contribution of Spanish Foundations by the Spanish Association of Foundations, prepared by AFI, the impact of the foundational sector on the Spanish economy represented €27 billion in 2020, which accounts for 2.4% of the Spanish GDP for that year. These figures demonstrate the solid contribution of foundations to the economy, but they add much more value in areas as diverse as education, culture, talent creation, and technological research and innovation. Furthermore, as agents committed to social cohesion and the fight against inequality, they are the best formula for establishing public-private collaborations.

The actions promoted by these institutions are closely linked to the values of philanthropists whose motivations may vary greatly, but they have in common the understanding that solidarity is necessary to build a better future. In Spain, the CECA sector is an essential actor that demonstrates the transcendental capacity of philanthropy to promote a positive impact on people and their environment.

The CECA sector—comprising nine credit institutions (CaixaBank, Kutxabank, and Cajasur Banco, ABANCA, Unicaja, Ibercaja Banco, Caixa Ontinyent, Colonya Pollença, and Cecabank) and more than thirty foundations that stand out for their philanthropic character, oriented towards promoting local development and with a social purpose—has established itself as the largest private social investor in Spain.

The Social Work of the entities affiliated with CECA, historically associated with savings banks, has shifted in recent years towards the foundations of the sector that develop initiatives of a charitable-social nature. This commitment has been a crucial component of the social fabric for decades, playing a key role in building stronger and more sustainable communities, and since the approval of Law 26/2013 on Savings Banks and Banking Foundations, has allocated an investment of €7.8 billion across Spain to promote 930,000 activities that reached an average of 31 million beneficiaries annually, as detailed in the Social Work Report 2023.

In these ten years, we have experienced a pandemic, humanitarian crises, natural disasters, a war in Europe, and geopolitical changes, among other challenges that have generated permanent instability and uncertainty. During this time, Social Work has been very present, helping society in its most difficult moments, especially those who need it the most. This assistance translates into programs aimed at promoting improved well-being, fostering equal opportunities and inclusion, primarily directed towards the senior collective, individuals at risk of social exclusion, or for the emptied Spain. The Social Work of CECA entities not only remains at the forefront of private social investment in Spain but is also regarded as one of the main agents in promoting social inclusion. This great work has been made possible thanks to the entities and human teams that over the years have continued to professionalize and maintain their commitment to society, with great capacity for adaptation and flexibility in their programs.