13 May 2026
The Third Sector in Italy is a system that includes a wide range of organizations operating in the interest of the community. These include both associations with a profit-making purpose and non-profit organizations, such as ESEO Italia, a patient association that stands out for its commitment to supporting people affected by Eosinophilic Esophagitis or other Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases and their families.
With the introduction of the National Single Register of the Third Sector (RUNTS), all these organizations are now gathered in a single register, thereby facilitating transparency and the management of their activities. In this article, we will explore the role of patient associations in the Third Sector, the importance of the number of members and why being a representative association is crucial in order to have a significant impact. Finally, we will discuss how the 5x1000 represents an opportunity to support non-profit associations such as ESEO Italia.
What is the RUNTS and what are its objectives?
The National Single Register of the Third Sector was established to create a single point of reference for all organizations operating in the Third Sector, such as volunteer associations, social promotion organizations, philanthropic bodies, and others.
The main objective of the RUNTS is to improve transparency, traceability, and trust in the activities carried out by these organizations. Registration with the RUNTS allows entities to access tax benefits, public and private funding, and to participate in public calls and tenders.
Patient Associations in the Third Sector
Patient associations, such as ESEO Italy, play a crucial role in the Third Sector. These organizations are created and managed by patients and their families with the aim of providing support, information, and representation to people affected by specific diseases. They are therefore non-profit associations and entities, and their volunteer members offer their commitment with generosity and dedication, unlike other types of associations operating in the Third Sector.
But what are the main functions of Patient Associations?
- Support and assistance: providing information on diseases, available treatments, and ways to access care;
- Awareness-raising: working to increase public and institutional awareness of the diseases they deal with;
- Representation and advocacy: representing patients’ interests before institutions, the healthcare system, and the public;
- Fundraising: organizing awareness-raising and training events, as well as fundraising campaigns to pursue their statutory purposes.
Tax Return and 5x1000: an opportunity to support associations
As the tax return period approaches, Italian taxpayers have the opportunity to allocate part of their taxes to support non-profit organizations through the 5x1000. This procedure makes it possible to allocate 5x1000 of personal income tax (IRPEF) to entities operating in the Third Sector, such as ESEO Italy.
How does the 5x1000 work?
Allocating the 5x1000 does not involve any additional cost for the taxpayer. When completing the tax return — Form 730 or Redditi PF Form — it is sufficient to:
Sign in the box dedicated to non-profit organizations of social utility, scientific research bodies and universities, health research bodies, social activities carried out by the municipality of residence, and amateur sports associations. In the case of ESEO Italy, it is a non-profit organization of social utility;
Enter the tax code of the organization you wish to support. For ESEO Italy, the tax code is: 97938720584
Why support Patient Associations with the 5x1000?
Allocating the 5x1000 to a patient association such as ESEO Italy means, first and foremost, supporting the association and enabling it to have established funds that allow it to carry out all its activities of representation, support for patients and families, collaboration with the scientific community, and more. Communication and awareness-raising campaigns also need funds in order to be promoted, so as to spread public and institutional awareness of the diseases and their implications.
The importance of members in Patient Associations
For ESEO Italia, in addition to the 5x1000 donation, the number of registered members is essential. More members mean greater representativeness, legitimacy, and visibility. It is important to emphasize that only ORDINARY MEMBERS registered through the website represent the actual number of members recognized by the Italian Revenue Agency, while those who participate in social media groups on Facebook or Instagram are not part of the association and cannot participate in all its initiatives.
Therefore, donating the 5x1000 is not enough: it is NECESSARY to renew membership in the association every year in order to guarantee visibility and strength to the organization. The 5x1000 helps improve services, but without a significant number of members, the association risks losing weight and impact.
The number of members who join a patient association is a fundamental indicator of its strength and representativeness. High membership means:
- Greater legitimacy – a large number of members makes the association an authoritative voice that is listened to by both the media and institutions;
- Lobbying power – associations with many members have a greater ability to influence political and healthcare decisions;
- Additional resources – having many members also means that each of them can contribute through membership fees, which alone could not support the survival of the association;
- Diversity of experiences – more members mean a greater diversity of experiences and knowledge.
How ESEO Italy represents a model of a non-profit Patient Association
ESEO Italy is an example within the landscape of non-profit patient associations. Thanks to its commitment and its growing number of members, ESEO Italy has succeeded in:
- Providing continuous support to patients and their families through counselling services, support groups, and up-to-date information on the diseases;
- Increasing public awareness of specific diseases by promoting awareness campaigns and collaborating with the media;
- Representing patients’ interests before institutions, influencing healthcare policies and ensuring access to available treatments and care;
- Organizing events, conferences, meetings, and much more, while ensuring representation before institutions.
Conclusion
The RUNTS represents a significant step forward for the Third Sector in Italy, as it brings together all organizations, including both profit-making associations and non-profit organizations such as ESEO Italy.
Patient associations play a vital role in providing support, raising public awareness, and representing the interests of patients.
As the tax return period approaches, allocating the 5x1000 to ESEO Italy is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the cause, improving services and ensuring representation for all patients.
