Charitable organization

Just days after his major concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Argyros will perform live at the Herodion on October 15, in support of a significant charitable cause.

At 0.165% of gross domestic product, Greece's official contribution to developing countries puts it third from last among the members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. And this is not a result of the economic crisis; we were in more or less the same spot before 2009 too.

For civil society to function properly, it needs autonomy. The state should not stifle the activities of charitable organizations.

However, it seems that the minimum conditions to carry out a public benefit action and to accept and manage donations must be ensured. These organizations should at least have legal status so that rudimentary accountability to the authorities is possible.

A Turkish woman who started a charity run has attracted 130,000 participants and 1 million benefactors, while collecting 153 million Turkish Liras in aid for different non-governmental organizations.

At a time of dwindling faith in Greek institutions, a significant percentage of citizens appear to be putting their trust in charitable foundations, according to a survey for the Dianeosis nonprofit think tank.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth will step down as patron from a number of national organizations in the coming months after she turned 90 in April, Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Dec. 20.

Elizabeth, the world's longest-reigning living monarch, will pass her patronage of dozens of charities, academic institutions and sporting groups to other members of the royal family.