New e-donation raised 1.6 million kroons

- Project-based financing of strong citizens’ associations that does not guarantee their sustainability is a problem in Estonia. Changing the attitude of local people towards donation would be a solution - you can perform miracles with just 5 kroons a month, says Maris Ojamuru, Area Manager of Public Responsibility of Swedbank in the Baltics.

If one half of all internet bank users set up direct debits to pay 5 kroons a month to their favourite cause, it would generate 1,250,000 kroons for the third sector every month and a lot could be done with this kind of money.
- The donation environment is an example of thinking responsibly by introducing the possibility to solve burning issues with everyday business activities,” added Maris Ojamuru.

So far, the donations have helped Pelgulinna Maternity Hospital purchase a new incubator for the Newborns Department and the Estonian Society for the Protection of Animals and Cat Safehouse treat almost 200 animals. The University of Tartu Hospital Children's Hospital has been able to purchase equipment for rehabilitation of seriously disabled children, the Dharma Foundation managed to support families in difficulties and the persons who support them and the Self-Help and Advisory Centre for the Elderly could help and train grandparents raising orphaned grandchildren, etc.

You can read about all the things the donations have helped to achieve on www.swedbank.ee/tuletoeta.

Organisations are listed in the donation environment for one year and they all have the right to apply for the right to participate again in the next year – an opportunity that has been used by most of the organisations. The Health Promotion Union of Estonia and the Estonian Union of People with Physical Disabilities have been added.

The donation environment of Estonia is the first solution in the Baltic States that has been integrated into the internet bank and that tries to resolve social problems.