Impacture 2026: Business, charity, CSR, “One Dram,” and big results

On May 26, 2026, Mediamax Media Company hosted the Impacture 2026 conference, dedicated to discussions on charity, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and impact investments.

The partners of the Impacture 2026 conference included Ucom, IDBank, JTI Armenia, Tufenkian Foundation, and HENDERSON Armenia.

The first panel discussion was titled “Charity, CSR and Impact Investments: Conflict or Complementarity?”

The discussion featured Mher Abrahamyan, IDBank Board Chairman, Nazareth Seferian, Social Entrepreneurship and CSR Expert and Impact Hub Yerevan Board Member, Vache Vardanian, the Director and Founder of the Hayordi Charitable Foundation, and Larisa Hovannisian, the Founder and CEO of Teach for Armenia Educational Foundation.

The discussion was moderated by Sharmagh Sakounts, Fundraising Consultant at APRI Armenia and Head of Fundraisers Club Armenia. 

The distinction between charity and CSR

Mher Abrahamyan, IDBank Board Chairman 

Sometimes it is difficult to draw a clear line between charity and corporate social responsibility (CSR). To distinguish between the two, it is important to understand the purpose each serves. As a rule, charity aims to address a specific, immediate issue, while social responsibility represents a more systemic approach focused on solving long-term challenges.

The key difference lies in philosophy, and the most important concept here is responsibility. It means being accountable to the environment and the society in which you operate and generate income.

Of course, businesses create jobs, contribute to economic development, and pay taxes. It may seem that by doing so, they can avoid taking on additional responsibilities. However, taking responsibility and sharing the fruits of success is equally important.

Under the 2025 amendment to the tax code, commercial entities can reduce their corporate income tax by up to 2.5% of their gross income through donations made to state educational institutions. 

Tax legislation and government policy can significantly influence this sector, but I do not believe they can serve as the primary driving force. Such regulations may encourage, facilitate, or complicate implementation, but they cannot play a decisive role. 

We recently implemented a highly valuable program at YSU, providing scholarships to 103 students from Artsakh. This initiative was not launched because of the tax amendment, it was part of the “Side by Side” program launched in 2024 to support our compatriots from Artsakh.

Nazareth Seferian, Social Entrepreneurship and CSR Expert, Impact Hub Yerevan Board Member

One of the most important priorities for any business is long-term planning, during which various issues emerge that may pose risks to its sustainable development.

In the case of corporate responsibility, these issues are viewed through a business lens and include their strategic connection to the business. In other words, within CSR, a business sets goals that are relevant both to itself and to society.

The “meeting” of foundations and business

Vache Vardanian, Founder and Director of the Hayordi Charitable Foundation

Since 2020, various circumstances have led to a significant increase in the number of foundations operating in our country. There are many foundations with dedicated teams that face difficulties in raising funds.

Based on our experience, I can say that it is critically important for foundations to present their activities professionally. When a company receives a proposal from a foundation, its first step is to search online to understand what the foundation does, whether it has any affiliations, etc.

I can cite the cooperation between Hayordi and IDBank as an example. Friends and like-minded people often tell me that, knowing Idram supports our foundation, they prefer to make payments through that digital platform, because within the framework of the “Power of One Dram” initiative, a donation from each transaction is directed toward charitable causes. In this case, it does not even matter which specific foundation receives support during a given month.

Larisa Hovannisian, Founder and CEO of the Teach for Armenia Educational Foundation

I should also mention IDBank and Idram, as they were among the first representatives of Armenia’s private sector to begin working with us. This cooperation has been built in the spirit of genuine partnership.

 Today, Teach for Armenia is also collaborating with companies in the technology sector. We are not simply asking them for financial support; rather, we offer them to engage their best employees in teaching within communities alongside their professional work.

“The Power of One Dram”
 
Mher Abrahamyan, IDBank Board Chairman 

“The Power of One Dram” is a classic example of corporate social responsibility and, I believe, has helped shape a new culture within the sector.

Over the past six years, “The Power of One Dram” has partnered with more than 50 foundations and non-governmental organizations, allocating more than 300 million drams.

We firmly believe that even small steps, modest resources, and just one dram can make a meaningful difference in improving people’s quality of life, as well as contributing to the protection of the environment and nature. At the same time, it is crucial who implements these programs. Reliable partners capable of translating their goals into tangible results are needed. It is one thing to have good intentions and goals; it is another to bring them to life.

We apply a set of criteria and conduct thorough assessments of every organization with which we plan to cooperate.

Impact investments

Nazareth Seferian, Social Entrepreneurship and CSR Expert, Impact Hub Yerevan Board Member

When considering a classic investment, the primary focus is on financial return.

However, when we speak about impact investments, financial return is only one of several factors. It is equally important to understand and measure the social or environmental impact generated by that investment.

We are talking about social enterprises established to address specific social or environmental challenges. This is an important direction for our country.

The consumer mindset is also very important. We should each understand that, as consumers, we make choices every day – we choose one company or another and, in doing so, contribute to social impact.

Sensitive issues

Vache Vardanian, Founder and Director of the Hayordi Charitable Foundation

International organizations avoid funding initiatives focused on local and national issues, even though our programs are primarily humanitarian and socio-psychological in nature.

We face various challenges during fundraising. For example, we are currently in the middle of a campaign and have postponed our regular summer camp fundraising efforts until after the elections.

Foundations like ours must be extremely careful in the language we use when working with beneficiaries, as the issues we address are highly sensitive both for beneficiaries and for businesses. Many companies, upon hearing the word “war,” tend to perceive it as a political term rather than as a humanitarian and social issue. With this in mind, over the past six years we have revised our media campaigns, reshaped the presentation of our programs, which has enabled us to move forward.

Learning from each other

Mher Abrahamyan, IDBank Board Chairman 

I believe foundations and NGOs have come to understand that success cannot be achieved simply by sending out emails. They are becoming more responsible, better organized, more targeted, and results-oriented.

At the same time, we have also learned to assess these needs and to understand what our country and target groups need most today.

Nazareth Seferian, Social Entrepreneurship and CSR Expert, Impact Hub Yerevan Board Member

It is important for businesses to speak openly about strategic approaches to corporate responsibility so that the broader public begins to understand what a systematic approach entails, rather than assuming that businesses simply have surplus funds to distribute here and there.

Measurement mechanisms are equally important. It is not enough to record that, for example, 50 young people completed a training program. We must seek to understand what actually changed in their lives as a result, and how many of them genuinely benefited from the initiative.

Vache Vardanian, Founder and Director of the Hayordi Charitable Foundation

Many companies, when rejecting a foundation’s application, do not explain the reasons behind their decision. I believe that providing such feedback would help foundations reflect on unsuccessful experiences and improve future applications.

Personally, I have also learned to better understand business interests. I often put myself in the position of a company executive and try to view the issues we raise from their perspective.

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Photos by David Ghahramanyan