The European foundation sector is composed of diverse realities in each individual country, varying not only in terms of language, but also culture, giving trends and economic context among many other aspects.

Thus, the European foundation sector is at once a rich mosaic of national characteristics and a complex area in which to carry out Europe-wide analysis.  Nonetheless, a few studies have attempted a comparative approach, covering the whole continent, parts of it, or specific sectors of philanthropic activity:

European environmental funding by European foundations: A snapshot, EFC, 2011

Untapped Potential: European Foundation Funding for Women and Girls, Mama Cash, 2011

European foundations: Survey among Members of the European Parliament, EFC and GALLUP, 2010

Foundations Research and Mapping (FOREMAP), EFC and European Commission, 2009

Feasibility study on a European Foundation Statute, Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law and the Centre for Social Investment at the University of Heidelberg, 2008

Foundations in the European Union: facts and figures, EFC, 2008

Other studies with a global scope

The World Giving Index 2010, CAF, 2010
Global institutional philanthropy: A preliminary status report, TPI and WINGS, 2011