supports those who take care of a loved one

Bergamo. In Foundation of the Bergamo Community born on ‘Caregiver Bergamo Fund’promoted by the Bergamo Board of Mayors of Ats Bergamo to carry out actions and projects to support the caregiver Bergamo family members or those who take daily care of a fragile family member in need of constant assistance.

The current type philanthropic fund is created with an initial availability of 7,500.00 euros made available by the Board of Auditors through the Fund of the same name already established (in 2016) at the Bergamo Community Foundation; this endowment will also be open to further donations.

The objective of the ‘Caregiver Bergamo’ Fund is to make the actions and projects activated by the Caregiver Bergamo Laboratory – established in 2023 with a collaboration agreement between ATS Bergamo, the Board of Mayors, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, ASST Bergamo Est and ASST Bergamo Ovest – sustainable in the future. , Conferences of Mayors and Assemblies of Mayors of Area Plans, Social Territorial Areas, CSV, Trade Unions, Patronages, University of Bergamo, Bergamo Community Foundation, Azzanelli Cedrelli Celati Foundation and for children’s health, Territorial School Office, Professional Orders, Social Cooperation and Third Sector Bodies – starting from the first initiatives born and financed by the two tenders dedicated to caregivers ‘In-Formazione Caregiver’ and ‘In-Ascolto Caregiver’ promoted by the Bergamo Community Foundation together with ATS Bergamo and the Board of Mayors: the interinstitutional web portal caregiverbergamo.it, the new digital hub through which to access all useful and updated information on services, bureaucratic and administrative procedures, events and much more; and spaces for listening and psychological support dedicated to caregivers: one of the main needs that emerged from the discussion with those who very often find themselves in a condition of loneliness, with a significant emotional, mental and material burden, and who must have the opportunity to take self care.

The addresses and destinations of the “Caregiver Bergamo Fund” will be established by the Board of Auditors. Instead, it will be the responsibility of the ATS Bergamo Auditors’ Office to arrange all communications resulting from the decisions taken by the Board and take care of the related technical-operational aspects.

Donations can be made by anyone: individual citizens or those gathered in groups and associations, businesses, etc. by accessing the Bergamo Community Foundation website. Donors can enjoy the tax benefits provided by law (both for natural and legal persons). For information: Fondazionebergamo.it/fondi).

THE CURRENT FUND: AN AGILE TOOL TO PROMOTE GIVING

The “Bergamo Caregiver Fund” is a current fund which, by its nature, was created to promote fundraising for a specific project or cause that responds to a community need. The Foundation undertakes to report on the activities carried out through the Fund, guaranteeing donors that the sums disbursed are actively used to pursue the philanthropic objectives declared through reportable projects, from the point of view of social impact and quantitative and qualitative results. The Foundation therefore becomes a privileged intermediary between those who can donate and those who plan and implement interventions inspired by a concrete spirit of subsidiarity, which it intends to support and promote.

Osvaldo Ranica, president of the Bergamo Community Foundation: “Listening and information: these are two of the ways in which we intend to “take care of those who care”. The role of caregivers is precious for everyone: supporting them means supporting and improving the quality of life of the entire community. To do this you need resources. It is necessary to collect them and use them in a transparent and effective way. The ‘Caregiver Bergamo Fund’ intends to promote the community’s donation in support of this cause. The Fund was created thanks to networking with ATS Bergamo, the Board of Mayors of Bergamo and the Third Sector in favor of the Bergamo community: this is our horizon, the style that increasingly characterizes the action of the Bergamo Community Foundation”.

Marcella Messina, president of the Board of Mayors of Bergamo: “Over the years, the Board of Mayors of Bergamo has consolidated a solid partnership with the Bergamo Community Foundation by promoting collaborative processes and co-planning provincial initiatives. Among these, the Caregiver project has taken on particular importance and, considering the notable results obtained, we have decided to invest in its long-term sustainability. This project stands out as an emblematic example of collaboration between public bodies, the Third Sector and associations. For this reason, the Board of Auditors has established the ‘Bergamo Caregiver Fund’ to guarantee the continuity of the activities started by the Caregiver Laboratory, actively involving the institutions and local entities”.

PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS

Bergamo Community Foundation collects specific donations as well as bequests which are managed mainly through the activation of philanthropic funds. The Foundation guarantees the disbursement of the Fund with competence and professionalism through a regulation agreed with the donor to promote projects in line with its desire for philanthropy.

Philanthropic funds can be patrimonial, current or mixed.

Heritage funds are made up of assets whose fruits are perpetually destined for purposes identified by the donor. They constitute a valid alternative to the creation of a private foundation.

The assets are made up of an initial donation, can be implemented with subsequent donations, become irrevocably part of the Foundation’s assets and are fully invested.

The income is intended for direct use for the purposes established by the fund regulation or, upon indication of the donor, can be allocated annually to increase the assets of the fund itself.

Subsequent donations are intended to increase the fund’s assets or can be earmarked for disbursement.

Current funds, however, can be activated to allocate resources to specific purposes, to be used for interventions planned over time.

Mixed funds have an asset component and a current component.

Overall, to date, 49 philanthropic funds are open in the Bergamo Community Foundation, of which 35 are patrimonial (27 dedicated to the Social Area, 7 to Culture and 1 to the Environment) and 14 current.