We see our donations and volunteering activities as a way of living up to our purpose of helping people achieve a lifetime of financial security. Therefore – in line with our Responsible Business approach – we focus on the intersection of financial security and well-being.
Aegon provided over EUR 9 million in support to local communities in 2019. We donated more than EUR 8 million to over 500 charities across the countries in which we operate. And our employees volunteered approximately 19,500 hours – equivalent to EUR 900,000, based on their average salaries.
Our colleagues built affordable houses in Denver with Habitat for Humanity, and helped people address the problem of excessive debt in the Netherlands with a financial coaching program. Among the largest recipients of donations were United Way and Habitat for Humanity in the US, the VUMC Alzheimer Center in the Netherlands, and Sick Kids Friends Foundation and the Teenage Cancer Trust in the UK.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a way for our employees to contribute to and strengthen our ties with our local communities. And we believe it also improves employee engagement. Most of our staff worldwide can claim paid time-off to work on local community projects.
Charitable donations
To further underline our purpose, we have selected two overarching themes for our donations, which is reflected in the Charitable Donations Standards:
- Under the theme of financial security and education, we support charities that promote financial education and financial literacy such as teaching children about finance and helping adults understand their finances. We also support programs that help older people with their quest for gainful employment, be it starting their own business or retraining.
- To promote well-being and longevity, Aegon supports charities that encourage physical fitness and mental vitality. We also help organizations in the prevention and research of old-age diseases such as Alzheimer's, heart disease and cancer.
Aegon's Charitable Donations Standards sets out the guidelines for our support to charities, good causes and other non-profit organizations.