Investment in Social Work by CECA Sector Entities Reached Over 34 Million Beneficiaries in 2017

The total investment exceeded 800 million euros in 2017 and financed 115,210 activities

The Social Work continues to stand out for its contribution to the improvement of societal well-being, positioning the entities associated with CECA at the forefront of private social investment in Spain once again.

In 2017, the investment in Social Work amounted to 800.9 million euros, a nine percent increase from 2016. Since the approval of Law 26/2013, on December 27, of Savings Banks and Banking Foundations, contributions to Social Work have grown by 12.8 percent, reflecting the significant effort of the entities not only in maintaining their social activity but also in continuing to increase it thanks to greater professionalism, efficiency, and resource optimization.

Social Action, Main Area of Investment

The Social Action category continues to be the main area of investment, accounting for 45 percent of the total. Notable are the assistance programs for groups at risk of social exclusion; projects aimed at health, volunteering, international cooperation, and improving the integration of individuals into society, among others.

The Education and Research area ranks second in resources, with a significant increase of 62.6 percent compared to the previous year, representing an investment of just over 153 million euros.

This is followed by Culture and Heritage, which, with 141.5 million euros, contributes 17.7 percent of the total investment.

The Local Development and Employment Creation category has experienced the greatest growth compared to 2016, having doubled its contribution (101.4 million euros in 2017 compared to 50 million in 2016). This category includes activities supporting the business fabric, employment promotion programs, self-employment, microcredits, and support for entrepreneurs, including specific initiatives for groups at risk of social exclusion. The sector once again demonstrates its closeness to society and its flexibility in allocating resources to meet the most pressing social demands today. Furthermore, nearly 5.5 percent of total contributions are destined for the combined categories of Sports and Leisure and Environment.

This commitment is also reflected in the number of actions and beneficiaries, with 115,210 activities having reached over 34.9 million people, which represents an increase of 12.8 percent and 13.4 percent respectively compared to the previous year.

On another note, the Social Work of the entities associated with CECA has benefited more than 23.6 million people from specific groups and has particularly targeted:

• More than eight million people under 25 years old who have received over 188 million euros.
• More than 5.5 million people at risk of exclusion who have received over 109 million euros.
• More than 4 million elderly individuals on whom around 60 million euros have been invested.
• More than three million people with special needs to whom approximately 60 million euros have been allocated.
• An investment of more than 27 million euros for 2.4 million entrepreneurs, more than double the beneficiaries from 2016.

Commitment to Sustainability

Regarding income sources, once again there is a growth in resources generated through own activities, which accounted for 43.5 percent, compared to 40.9 percent the previous year, demonstrating improved efficiency and resource management of the entities in a more stable economic and regulatory environment.

The second source of income comes from dividends, which represent 39.3 percent for the year 2017.