Extract of the 2019-2020 Guidelines

Areas of action

The annual division of resources between the four Areas of action of the Fund favours the Social  Area, which receives the largest share of funds available. This is followed by Cultural initiatives, Religious projects and, finally, the Research area.

Project selection

Regardless of the area of action, the selection of projects is determined by the practical content of the initiatives forwarded, and their social and civil impacts; in particular, the latter aspect is assessed ex-ante, through collected data on the organisation's ability to achieve the stated goals. When choosing the successful applicants, priority is given to the most clearly designed project, with the most significant results and social impact, and also with the most careful and efficient use of resources.

Project duration

In terms of duration, the donations generally cover projects spanning over one year. However long a single project may go on for, the maximum limit of support guaranteed for the project will be three consecutive years, subject to examining its results. The application for the following years must be re-submitted. There is also an overall commitment to diversification of beneficiary organisations year by year.

Financeable projects

Funding resources are available only and exclusively for project initiatives, and not for the routine activities of the applicant organisation. The Fund's resources are traditionally allocated to projects aimed at development. The following purposes are excluded:

• projects exclusively aimed at construction, renovation, restoration or compliance of property and possessions;

• the purchase of durable equipment and goods; such expenses may be included in the project budget for an amount equivalent to no more than 20% of the sum requested from the Fund;

• projects aimed at commercial growth, even when related to socially beneficial activities (e.g. founding and launch of cooperatives and social enterprises, franchising, brand development/packaging/merchandising, etc.);

• projects that envisage the organisation of initiatives and provision of services for a payment or without price controls;

• fundraising events and activities;

• capital shares in companies of any type (start-ups, cooperatives, etc.);

• advertising and visibility activities: such expenses may be included in the project budget for an amount equivalent to no more than 5% of the sum requested from the Fund;

• organisation of local cultural, promotional, tourist or commercial events;

• organisation of contests and awards;

• publication of musical works, books or publications for social and informative purposes, unless they have particular nationwide or local importance and their distribution be free of charge. 

1. SOCIAL AREA

The Fund aims to focus its activity in the following areas, considered as particularly important and urgent:

• educational poverty and early school leaving;

• violence against women and children;

• senile dementia.

2. CULTURAL AREA

The Fund looks to support only those projects which offer social benefits, thus those aimed at people with limited economic means, or vulnerable and marginalised individuals.

3. RELIGIOUS AREA

Beneficiary entities in this Area are religious organisations of any religion or faith.
The funded initiatives mainly regard charitable projects based on a vision of solidarity and the central role of the individual, with initiatives primarily of a social nature.

4. RESEARCH AREA

The Fund's contribution focuses on all research projects (in any field of science or technology) that are aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals by solving serious problems or meeting emerging needs. Donations in this sector are intended to fulfill select and targeted projects proposed by the most expert/qualified organisations.

International projects are supported only through Central donations (requests over 5,000 euro). Proposals may involve the Social and Religious Areas, with priority given to:

• development of the communities and territories in which the Intesa Sanpaolo Group operates through its foreign subsidiary banks;
• interventions in Countries which have a Low or Medium Human Development Index, paying special attention to the following areas:
  • economic development and professional training;
  • educational poverty;
  • food poverty;
  • health poverty;
  • empowerment of women and young people;
  • interventions in poor and emerging counries struck by natural disasters (earthquake, floods, drought, etc.).