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Global Philanthropy Environment Index

Global Philanthropy Environment Index

Understanding the state of the enabling environment for philanthropy globally

The Global Philanthropy Environment Index(GPEI) provides the tools global leaders need to understand how and where the philanthropic environment is changing and evolving and—most importantly—how to maximize philanthropy’s ability to help solve pressing challenges.

GPEI is particularly crucial in a time when philanthropy’s role in driving innovation in times of crisis is not fully documented and well understood.

It is a one-of-a-kind global report prepared by more than 100 country-level experts who have assessed the environment for philanthropy in 91 countries and economies by examining the incentives and barriers to giving. The evaluation of the countries and economies that make up the GPEI helps reveal the complex ecosystem of regulations, politics and cultures that shape global philanthropy.

The urge to give in support of others is universal

Understanding the 2022 GPEI

The 2022 GPEI evaluates countries and economies on a five-point scale (1.0 to 5.0) across six key factors that comprehensively measure philanthropy: (1) ease of operating a philanthropic organization; (2) tax incentives on giving; (3) cross-border philanthropic flows; (4) political environment; (5) economic environment; and (6) socio-cultural environment for philanthropy. This is the first year the report has included a review of the economic environment as its own consideration in the analysis.

View the full 2022 GPEI report

Explore the map

The above interactive map shows the overall assessment of each economy’s philanthropic environment on a scale from 1.0 to 5.0. A total of 91 countries and economies across 14 geographic regions were studied, including 12 new economies added since the last report was published in 2018. The 2022 GPEI global average score is 3.63.

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Highlights

Covering the period between January 2018 and December 2020, the Index evaluates 91 countries and economies across six key factors that measure the ease with which philanthropic organizations can operate, rules and regulations that affect giving—both within countries and across borders, policies and practices with which governments can promote or hinder philanthropy, economic conditions and stability that affect the development of philanthropy, and values and traditions that provide enabling conditions for both formal and informal philanthropy. This includes in-depth research on the incentives and barriers that individuals, businesses, and other organizations face when donating to social causes or institutions within a certain economy or abroad.

More than three-fifths (62%) of the 91 economies reported a favorable philanthropic environment (with a score of 3.50 or above) in 2018-2020. Of the 91 economies, more than a quarter (26%) had a highly favorable (13%) or favorable (13%) philanthropic environment (scored 4.0 or above), 36 percent had a moderately favorable environment (scored between 3.50 and 3.99), and the remaining 38 percent scored below 3.50, indicating a restrictive environment.

In order to support global philanthropy amid complex global crises, we need tools to help us understand where it’s thriving, where it isn’t, and why. GPEI provides us with this one-of-a-kind roadmap for making philanthropy more effective in our response to global challenges, but that ultimately requires that policymakers act on the insights and learnings GPEI provides.
Una Osili, Ph.D., Efroymson Chair in Philanthropy and Associate Dean for Research and International Programs

The 2022 GPEI suggests a modest improvement in the global philanthropy environment between 2014-2017 and 2018-2020. However, such improvement was not uniform across regions as economic shocks, the COVID-19 pandemic, and political instability continue to impose substantial constraints on philanthropy in many areas.

Overall, experts indicated that the overall score for the philanthropic environment improved in 55 percent of the 79 economies studied in both the 2018 and 2022 GPEI between 2014-2017 and 2018-2020, which balanced with decreases observed in 44 economies.

Examining the impact

Philanthropy continues to play a significant role in addressing systemic problems and offering innovative solutions to local and global challenges. However, our ability to understand where and how philanthropy is best positioned to succeed depends on the availability of various tools like the GPEI.

By raising awareness about the factors that create a positive philanthropic environment, the 2022 GPEI provides useful information and good practices for decision-makers and equips them to promote philanthropy both locally and internationally.

Explore the Trends & Themes