This latest HIV/AIDS philanthropy resource tracking report of European funders is based largely on responses to surveys, with some supplemental review of annual reports and funders’ websites. The European HIV/AIDS Funders Group (EFG) obtained data for a total of 37 funders; combined, they are believed to represent the substantial majority of private philanthropic HIV/AIDS funding from Europe.

Total HIV/AIDS-related philanthropy among the 37 European-based funders reviewed for this report amounted to €120 million ($152 million) in 2009. Funding expenditures were higher—by approximately €24 million ($30 million)—in 2009 compared with 2008, a 25% increase, among the 27 funders for which EFG has two years of comparable expenditure data (2008 and 2009).

Two-thirds of those funders for which two years of data was available increased funding to HIV/AIDS from 2008 to 2009, including seven of the top ten funders, with several increasing over 50% from 2008–9. For funders for which four years of comparable data was available (back to the year 2006 when expenditures were first reported consistently), the 2009 total expenditures, at approximately 72 million ($91 million), is the highest total yet. In the current challenging context of global recession, flatlining or declining global and domestic donor government funding, and growing need, this increasing expenditure by private European funders on HIV/AIDS is a sign of hope.

The publication can be viewed online here.