What did the December Adviterra Club 2025 bring?

This year's final Adviterra Club meeting had a festive atmosphere, but the program was packed with practical topics. We focused on what entrepreneurs should accomplish by December 31 in order to enter the new year without unnecessary stress, and we also opened a discussion on philanthropy. We talked about how companies and individuals can meaningfully support the community.

Here is an overview of the most important ideas from both blocks.

1. What does the company have to accomplish by December 31?

A practical overview by Ján Svočák

In the introductory section, Ján Svočák pointed out areas that entrepreneurs often put off until the last minute, which subsequently complicates the preparation of financial statements.

Unmatched documents and payments

At the end of the year, accountants are racing against time, and often only one or two documents are missing to complete the financial statements. Therefore, we recommend checking for any unpaid or unidentified payments and providing the accounting department with everything they need.

Business trip expense reports

Although it may seem like a minor detail, business trips can delay the closing of accounts by months. We have Excel templates available for clients that are constantly updated.

Stock and inventory

Clients using method B must take into account that unsold inventory increases the tax base. Physical inventory is therefore crucial and must be carried out precisely on December 31 or January 1.

Accrual of costs and revenues

Not every expense "in the December invoice" belongs in December. A typical example is January rent paid in advance. Correct differentiation is essential for an accurate financial result.

Reserves and unbilled deliveries

A company must not appear to be wealthier than it is. Therefore, the following must be recorded:

• reserves for financial statements and tax returns,
• provisions for unused vacation days,
• uninvoiced deliveries (only if we know the exact amount and period).

Costs tax deductible only after payment

This evergreen topic comes up regularly in clubs: legal services, accounting, and rent are only tax-deductible when they are actually paid. Payment in January = deductible item.

Taxation of old liabilities

Unpaid invoices after 360 days must be taxed gradually up to 100% if unpaid after three years.

Tax rates and news

The year 2025 did not bring any revolutionary changes in rates, but CEO Ján Svočák warned of the risk of exceeding the €100,000 limit:

• for €100,000, the rate is 10%,
• For €100,001, 21% is paid on the entire amount, not just on the difference.

Donating a percentage of your tax: what many people still don't know

Companies can donate 1% as standard, but only 2% if they donate 0.5% of their tax by the deadline for filing their tax returns.
From 2025, individuals will also be able to donate 2% to their parents if they are receiving an old-age pension as of December 31.

2. How a company can truly help the community

Philanthropy in practice with Marcel Zajac from the Tatra Bank Foundation

The second block brought a completely different, but equally valuable perspective. Marcel Zajac opened the topic of corporate philanthropy in practice.

Donation ≠ 2% referral

A very important point in the discussion:
2% is not a donation—it is public money, and we can have a say in how it is used.
Foundations must demonstrate not only how they use their funds, but also how the organizations they support use them.

Why companies help: it's not just PR

Behind every company there are people, and philanthropy always begins with a decision made by a person, not a brand.
The areas that people most often consider to be of public benefit are:

• education,
• healthcare,
• social assistance,
• environment,
• culture and art.

Marcel emphasized that investing in education has the greatest long-term impact. That is why the Tatra Bank Foundation directs a significant portion of its support to this area.

How is a project applying for support evaluated?

Grant programs have clear criteria: connection to practice, modern education, impact on teachers, innovation, and potential to disseminate results further.
Selection is carried out by external experts, and competition is usually fierce.

Trends in giving: Slovaks are waking up

Examples from recent years prove this:

• record collections for Ukraine,
• massive media support for projects,
• growing interest of individuals in volunteering.

The power of community is becoming increasingly visible, and companies can be its driving force.

3. How to build a community that lives for a good cause

Martin Svočák – OZ Sport with Your Heart

The third block offered a very personal, authentic, and inspiring view of philanthropy "from below"—without large budgets, but with enormous heart.

Martin Svočák, co-owner of Stella Digit and founder of the civic association Športuj srdcom(Play Sports with Your Heart), showed what a community can achieve when united by a powerful idea. The association has been operating for ten years and is backed by hundreds of hours of volunteer work, many enthusiastic people, and, above all, one exceptional project: the ALS charity run.

A run that started with pain but is changing lives

The idea for the run came about after a tragic event in the family, which Martin only briefly outlined. However, it was this event that sparked his desire to help people struggling with ALS and their families, who are often left to cope on their own.

In ten years, the race has grown into a major community event under the Tatra Mountains.
In 2025:

• OZ supported 9 beneficiary families (each year has a symbolic number according to the order),
• 14 permanent members joined the organization,
• 120 volunteers help on the day of the event,
• On the track, runners meet those for whom they are running — an encounter that, according to Martin, creates "an atmosphere that is difficult to describe."

How to build a functioning nonprofit team

Martin openly showed that the success of a non-profit project does not depend on emotion, but on process, discipline, and sensible planning.

OZ operates according to clear rules:

• Each member has a predefined time frame for their entry.
• meetings have a precise agenda and separate urgent and important topics,
• Major planning takes place once every six months in an atmosphere of open discussion.
• The space is given to the person who has the strongest skillset for a specific task.

Martin recommended the Gallup test, which he believes greatly helps teams to recognize each other's strengths and divide responsibilities according to natural aptitude rather than chance.

What companies can learn from how they operate

Although it is a non-profit organization, the principles are surprisingly similar to those in the business world:

• Preparation saves chaos and money
  Medals, equipment, and materials are purchased months in advance, often cheaper and with a reserve.
• Processing creates peace within the team
  Everyone knows what they are responsible for and when they should act.
• Community is power
  Runners, volunteers, and families stick together, and thanks to that, the project has grown from nothing into a major event with a significant impact.

Invitation to a charity run

Martin invited all participants to the March edition, in which they can also take part in a 5-kilometer relay race. "You can train for it in 2-3 months," he added with a smile.

Three different perspectives—accounting, philanthropy, and community—came together in one powerful message: The growth of a company and a community begins where professionalism, discipline, and humanity meet.

We would like to thank all participants for their energy, questions, and the atmosphere that makes Adviterra Club what it is. We look forward to seeing you again in the new year.