This Monday, the third session of the series "The Role of Women in the Foundation World" was held at the Círculo Ecuestre, a space for meeting, reflection, and promotion of the role of women in the field of foundations. The series, promoted and moderated by Maria Eugènia Gay, jurist and deputy mayor of Barcelona City Council, was presented by Anna Gener, member of the Círculo Ecuestre's Governing Board. The event also included the special participation and welcome of Enrique Lacalle, president of the institution.

Of course, the five invited speakers, all leading women in the foundation world, took center stage during the day, sharing their experience, vision, and commitment to social transformation from different perspectives:

Helena Mora, president of the Victoria de los Ángeles Foundation, which strives to preserve the legacy of the legendary soprano and promote musical training among young people. María Jordà, general director of the Eurofirms Foundation, which focuses on the labor integration of people with disabilities and actively combating employer bias. Rosario Cabané, vice president of the Quiero Trabajo Foundation, which supports vulnerable women in their preparation for job interviews, empowering them at the crucial moment of accessing employment. Sister Lucía Caram, a nun and social activist from the Convent of Santa Clara in Manresa, who has built a network of programs to address poverty, social exclusion, and refugees, including in conflict zones such as Ukraine. And Cristina Vallejo, a lawyer specializing in foundation law, provided a legal perspective on the legal, tax, and gender challenges faced by third-sector organizations.

All of them shared their experience and perspectives from their respective organizations, addressing both the achievements and the difficulties that foundations face in their daily work. This third meeting of the series once again highlighted the role of foundations as drivers of the welfare state, generators of the economy, agents of improving the quality of life for citizens, drivers of employment, and key players in social cohesion and progress.

During her remarks at the beginning of the session, Maria Eugènia Gay underscored the relevance of this role in the current context: “Foundations are a reflection of a democratic and mature society, which faces the challenges ahead with the values of equality, solidarity, and fraternity. These values, now more than ever, are crucial to put on the table and, above all, to place the common good and the general interest as supreme assets to protect against any economic, technological, social, or cultural development.”


The presentations focused on several structural challenges facing the foundation world, such as excessive bureaucracy that hinders the daily work of foundations; the need to reform oversight mechanisms—which in some cases unduly restrict legitimate activities in the public interest; the call for better and more comprehensive fiscal support that allows foundations to operate more sustainably; the importance of actively contributing to improving the Patronage Law, currently under legislative review; and the urgency of fostering a more accessible and less stigmatized culture of philanthropy, understood as an exercise in civic co-responsibility.

From different perspectives—educational, cultural, welfare, and legal—the speakers offered inspiring testimonies of how their foundations positively impact society. Helena Mora, through the Victoria de los Ángeles Foundation, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural legacy as a tool for social cohesion. María Jordà denounced the poor implementation of the General Disability Law and explained how the Eurofirms Foundation combats corporate prejudices to facilitate the employment of people with disabilities. Rosario Cabané, for her part, presented the Quiero Trabajo Foundation as a decisive "last link" for women in vulnerable situations to access job interviews empowered and with confidence.

One of the most moving moments was the intervention of Sister Lucía Caram, who recounted how, from the Convent of Santa Clara, her foundation has evolved from a food bank to a network of social programs, care for the homeless, and humanitarian assistance in Ukraine: "The revolution of kindness can be more powerful than any discourse that dehumanizes us. Foundations must unite to transform society through love in action."

Cristina Vallejo, for her part, provided a legal perspective on the situation in the sector, noting that Spain is one of the countries with the most registered foundations in Europe, but at the same time one of those that receives the fewest financial contributions. She also denounced the persistent gender gap in foundation governing bodies, where women only hold 34% of board members and chairs, despite leading the majority of teams and programs: "Let's not wait for the law to force us to. Let's promote equality plans voluntarily and consciously", she concluded.

The event concluded with the announcement of a new event for June 13, also in Barcelona, under the theme "Foundations as a fundamental pillar of the welfare state and European values". This event will bring together national and international speakers and serve as a turning point for conveying conclusions and proposals to public institutions.