CAMBRIDGE, MA, June 30 — A new study from the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) examines relationships between Europe-based funders and the nonprofit organizations they support, revealing few differences between nonprofits’ perceptions of Europe- and U.S.-based funders.
The study is the most comprehensive analysis to date of feedback from grantees of Europe-based foundations, including more than 5,000 survey responses from grantees about 26 Europe-based funders, drawn from Grantee Perception Reports conducted by CEP from 2020 to 2024.
While overall the study of nonprofits’ perceptions reveals few differences between Europe-based funders and their U.S. counterparts, the report highlights two areas where grantees do report slight differences: the more time-intensive nature of European funders’ processes and the lower likelihood of receiving unrestricted support from Europe-based funders.
The report, “Partnering for Progress: Grantee Recommendations for Europe-Based Funders,” offers key recommendations from nonprofit organizations for their funders: that they strengthen relationships with grantees, streamline application and reporting processes, and provide more flexible funding and assistance beyond the grant. These themes coincide with the findings of prior CEP research reports, many of which are listed as additional resources in this new study.
As giving by Europe-based funders increases, reaching 76 billion euros annually — up from 54 billion euros annually a decade ago — philanthropic practices and funder-grantee relationships are crucial levers to strengthening nonprofits and improving impact.
About CEP
The Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide data, feedback, programs, and insights to help individual and institutional donors improve their effectiveness. We do this work because we believe effective donors, working collaboratively and thoughtfully, can profoundly contribute to creating a better and more just world. For more information on CEP’s work, including its research, assessments, advisory services, and programming, visit www.cep.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Chloe Heskett, Center for Effective Philanthropy: chloeh@cep.org | +1(617) 395-4092
