ELPIS was formed in an effort to bridge the gap between investment issues and philanthropic purposes of all forms, both in Greece and abroad. They believe that philanthropy must be targeted and controlled so that it can achieve its desired results. Likewise, the donor, whether it be a company, a foundation or a private citizen, should also set certain goals when they decide to make a donation. In turn, these goals must be periodically controlled in order to achieve the desired outcome.
As a philanthropic advisory firm, they first determine the goals of the donor. Next, they declare open competitions for nonprofits and NGO’s (who are active in the donors’ field of choice) in which to respond with project proposals. They then present the best proposals to the donor. After the donor and their selected NGO decide to proceed with a deal, they assume putting the deal into effect and seeing it through to the completion of its goals.
Unfortunately, there is often distrust surrounding the good practices of NGO’s, especially in Greece. However, elpis represents the collective experience of more than 17 years in the field, during which time they have supported over 1.1 billion euro worth of grantmaking. To that extent, they’ve worked with over 1,150 NGO’s and have come up against only a very small amount of corruption cases. Nevertheless, in order to avoid discrepancies, they demand that the NGO’s they work with have at least one to two years of verifiable and implemented works to support them.
elpis also supports other more tangible forms of philanthropy, such as volunteerism. Unfortunately, there is a certain amount of suspicion regarding volunteerism in Greece; they believe that this is due to a lack of childhood education on the matter. The meaning of solidarity is something that children must be taught from a very early age. This is the only way they can grow up into adults to whom helping others is like second nature.
elpis is dedicated to helping at every level. Whether it be orchestrating the workings of a major grant which will provide a daily meal for 5,000 impoverished households, or helping a group of school children realize the significance a simple action such as donating their outgrown clothes can make in the lives of those less fortunate.
Like the ancient Greeks who first coined the word, “philanthropia”, they believe in the intrinsic desire that exists in every person to help their fellow man. And they are committed to helping them do so. Wisely.
