AVƵ

Conference 2020

Public Conference

TAXATION&PHILANTHROPY

Designing tax incentivesfor the common good

The focus on Philanthropy has substantially increased over the last decade, attracting growing attention from policy makers, the media, the academic community and the public at large. The Notre Dame catastrophe and the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly raised public awareness of the tax treatment to be applied to philanthropic initiatives. The relationship between taxation and philanthropic giving poses a number of fundamental questions. For instance, is it justified to offer tax deductions as a “reward” for donations? Are tax incentives for philanthropy a cost or a benefit to society? Are tax incentives designed in a fair and efficient manner? Can best practices be identified by comparing existing national schemes?

The OECD and the Geneva Centre for Philanthropy have led a joint research project that addresses these issues. The project is the first large- scale international comparative study resulting in a milestone . On the occasion of the Conference,Mr. Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of the Centre for Tax Policy and Administration at the OECD presented the and provided answers to these crucial questions.

TheFondation Lombard Odier Prize for Academic Excellence in Philanthropy was awarded during the Conference.

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PROGRAMME

6.15pm: Welcome by Prof. Yves Flückiger, Rector of the AVƵ

Prize ceremony for the best papers,Fondation Lombard OdierPrize for Academic Excellence in Philanthropy

Awarded by Mr. Patrick Odier, Chairman of the Fondation Lombard Odier and Dr. Maximilian Martin, Secretary-General of Fondation Lombard Odier

6.30pm: Keynote speech by Mr. Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of the Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, OECD

Q&A session moderated by Prof. Henry Peter, Head of the GCP, and Dr. Giedre Lideikyte Huber, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law (GCP)

7.30pm: Closing by the Rector