Philanthropy House, located on rue Royale in Brussels, is a purpose-built center for institutional philanthropy in Europe. Conceived in 2009 by six major foundations—such as the Fritt Ord Foundation, King Baudouin Foundation, and Realdania—the building opened its doors in November 2013. The initiative was aimed at strengthening the presence of philanthropic organizations in Brussels, providing them with both a functional workspace and a platform to engage with policymakers, civil society, and the public.
The ownership of Philanthropy House is vested in European Foundation House S.A., with a recent transfer of shareholding from Realdania to Philea, further consolidating its role as a central hub for European philanthropy. The facility is home to Philea, the Philanthropy Europe Association, which itself emerged from the merger of the European Foundation Centre (EFC) and DAFNE in 2021. Philanthropy House hosts several support organizations, including ARIADNE, NEF, EPIM, and Impact Europe, among others.
Philanthropy House functions as a venue for exhibitions, debates, conferences, and documentary screenings. Current exhibitions showcase member projects, allowing both sector professionals and the general public to learn about the contributions of foundations to society. The building was awarded the 2013 BATEX Prize for energy efficiency, meeting high standards for eco-design.
It offers amenities such as meeting rooms, collaborative workspaces, and exhibition areas and serves as a knowledge repository on the philanthropic sector in Europe. This combination of shared space and public outreach distinguishes Philanthropy House as a focal point for partnership, dialogue, and the visibility of philanthropic work in Brussels.