Our Key Insights: From Crisis to Catalyst: Strengthening Philanthropic Infrastructure in Europe and Beyond

Leading donors, intermediaries, and representatives from the philanthropic sectors in Europe and the United States gathered at Salzburg Global from April 28 to May 1, 2026, to better understand the state of fiscal sponsorship and philanthropic infrastructure in Europe, its current capacity, and opportunities to innovate across the sector. Through a session on "Expanding Philanthropic Infrastructure in Turbulent Times: The Need for More European Intermediaries”, these 40 Fellows identified opportunities for growth and examined ways to sustainably expand the sector.

This initial gathering began the conversation by focusing on a handful of jurisdictions in Europe, while subsequent analysis will widen the aperture to assess the European landscape more broadly. Although the convening was informed by the experiences of European and U.S. intermediaries, the primary goal was to provide support for actors that work on projects operating beyond the transatlantic context.

Turbulent times present both challenges and opportunities for the philanthropic sector. Across the discussions, Fellows spoke transparently about the pressures they face, including shrinking civic space, political volatility, evolving regulatory frameworks, international hiring challenges, changing payment systems, and the implications of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Yet these same challenges create opportunities for intermediaries to collaborate, innovate, and build more resilient infrastructure that can expand their impact.

Fellows examined the European landscape, with a particular focus on fiscal hosting, to understand the limitations and capacity needs of infrastructure already in place, and what is needed to evolve and innovate a more robust ecosystem of intermediaries. The exchange among experienced representatives and emerging influencers in the fields of European and U.S. philanthropy and fiscal hosting underscored the immediate need to learn from each other’s approaches, identify opportunities for increased collaboration, and name areas for innovation across the field.