Giving Well: How Maltese Businesses Are Building Purpose Into Their Year-End Strategy

As the year draws to a close, many companies across Malta are finalising their annual reports, setting next year’s budgets, and planning their traditional “Christmas giving” activities. But in recent years, a quiet shift has begun to take place, one that’s redefining what it means to give well.

Instead of one-off donations or seasonal fundraising, more and more Maltese businesses are embedding purpose into the heart of their operations. They are asking deeper questions: How can our giving align with our values? How can it create lasting impact? How can it strengthen our people and our community?
This shift is what the Academy of Givers has championed from the very beginning, helping businesses move from charity to strategy, and from generosity to impact.

2025 has been a year of growth and reflection for the giving community in Malta. Through initiatives such as the Impact Fair, the new "ACT for Impact" mentorship programme, and the Giving Report, the Academy has seen firsthand how businesses and NGOs are finding new ways to work together. While most companies in Malta continue to support social causes, more are doing so in structured and strategic ways. Many are shifting from ad-hoc donations to longer-term partnerships, aligning their CSR efforts with their purpose, sustainability goals, and employees’ interests.

For businesses wondering how to start, the Academy recommends a few simple but powerful steps:

• Start with your purpose. Choose causes that align with your company’s mission and values.
• Engage your people. Let employees help choose the projects or volunteer opportunities.
• Collaborate, don’t just contribute. Build partnerships with NGOs based on shared goals.
• Measure your impact. Track both social outcomes and business benefits.
• Think long-term. Use the end of the year as a springboard for continuous engagement.

By rethinking giving in this way, companies can transform what might have been a one-time donation into a sustainable relationship that benefits everyone involved.

The Academy of Givers continues to support companies and NGOs that want to make their giving more strategic and impactful. Through its events, data insights, and network, the Academy provides the tools and connections needed to make purpose a part of business success.

As 2025 comes to a close, this is the perfect time for businesses to reflect not just on profits and performance, but on their purpose. Giving well is more than a seasonal gesture, which often becomes almost a task around Christmas time. It’s a mindset. It’s about seeing your impact on the community and the environment as part of good business practice, not an afterthought of profit.

So as you plan your year-end strategy, ask: Are we just giving… or are we giving well?

Businesses interested in embedding giving well into their plans for 2026 can connect with the Academy’s team to explore practical ways to collaborate, learn, and grow.