Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Week
Highlights
from the EFC’s
21st AGA &
Conference,
Open Days &
Interactive Fair
Brussels
31 May–4 June
2010
Foundation Week
Foundation Week, held from 31 May to 4 June, a programme of talks, debates and workshops
marked a new departure for the European covering a wide range of topics, from today’s
Foundation Centre (EFC) from its traditional societal challenges to more sector‑specific
annual gathering. Held at the new SQUARE issues. This was followed by the 21st EFC Annual
conference centre in Brussels, the event General Assembly (AGA) and Conference
brought together foundations of all different (hereafter referred to as the AGA), which was
sizes and backgrounds to meet each other and entitled ‘A Conversation with the Institutions’ and
open themselves up to the public, NGOs and took advantage of the event’s Brussels location
representatives of the European institutions. to engage in discussions with the European
Foundations have been around in Europe institutions.
for centuries and it is estimated that there are An Interactive Fair ran alongside these two parts
some 110,000 across the continent, yet most of the week, with a number of foundations setting up
people would be hard pushed to describe what a exhibitions to demonstrate their work and actively
foundation does. Uniquely for such an event, the engage visitors. A highlight of the fair was the
public were encouraged to attend and invited to Cinema Corner, which ran over 100 films exploring
learn more about the important role the sector plays issues at the heart of foundations’ programmes
in so many aspects of society. and projects.
Foundation Week was divided into two distinct This report brings you some highlights of the
parts. The Open Days, from Monday to Wednesday event and views from participants on specific
lunchtime, were open to anyone. They offered aspects of the week.
Contents 1 Interview EFC Chair Emílio Rui Vilar introduces 2 Interview EFC Chief Executive Gerry Salole
Foundation Week talks about his aspirations for Foundation Week
The Open Days 4 The Open Days: some session highlights 10 The Interactive Fair: some highlights
8 All the fun of the fair A guide to the Interactive
Fair, a new initiative for foundations to showcase
their work to colleagues and the public
The AGA 12 Interview Luc Tayart de Borms on the 20 Interview Caroline Hartnell talks to
relationship between foundations and the Mo Ibrahim, this year’s winner of the Raymond
European institutions Georis Prize
13 A conversation with the institutions With 21 The closing plenary The Raymond Georis
Foundation Week making the most of its Brussels Prize, the EFC photo competition, and a reflection
location, the opening plenary focused on the future on 20 years of the EFC
for foundations and Europe 24 Interview Francis Charhon considers
16 The European game plan A special plenary whether the EFC is a European or an international
focusing on how the European Foundation Statute organization
can help foundations address the new global 25 The AGA: some session highlights
challenges
Postscript 27 The new CEOs Following a dinner for the 30 The Next Generation Programme A new
EFC’s new CEOs, Sara Llewellin talks about the initiative guided 12 prospective foundation leaders
value of a new network through the events of Foundation Week
28 What did they think? Conference 32 Final thoughts from a ‘Euro‑sceptic’
participants from around the world say what they Filiz Bikmen Bugay and Gerry Salole
got out of Foundation Week
Foundation Week
Interview Is there a role that foundations can play that they aren’t
playing at the moment?
Emílio Rui Vilar I think we should increase our advocacy capacity. Advocacy is
an important task for foundations. We have the intellectual lead‑
ership and the people, so I think we should be more active in
advocating good causes and pushing forward the public interest
“We want to show to all our that is at stake in our work.
stakeholders, from the common The recent financial crisis, with its economic and social con‑
citizen to the European sequences, showed very clearly that the actions of governments
are not enough and that civil society must find new answers.
institutions responsible, that we Foundations have a role to play in that respect, both in them‑
are playing an important role selves and in mobilizing other institutions of civil society such as
in the public life of Europe in all NGOs to fill the holes that the crisis opens. In recent years, we
have seen many foundations working in partnership with others,
kinds of spheres.” but there is room for much more of this, and for collaboration
between foundations and other actors. For instance, if we look
at developing countries and development aid, foundations must
What was the idea behind Foundation Week and what work with governments from both donor and recipient countries,
do you hope will come out of it? with NGOs that have experience of working on the ground, and
We thought it was very important to show the diversity of work of with the beneficiaries of aid. If we don’t pay attention to the con‑
foundations, not only to other foundations but also to our stake‑ text and to local knowledge of it, our aid will not be effective.
holders, among whom politicians, members of the European
Parliament and the leaders of the European institutions feature What’s your impression about how the week is
very prominently. If we are looking for a European Foundation progressing?
Statute, we must convince those stakeholders of the need for I came on the eve of the opening and I was here early in the morn‑
it and of the work we do for the public good at local, regional, ing of the opening day. Every day, I see more movement, more
national and cross‑border level. On the other side, the ordinary people, more interaction, so I am happy with the way things are
citizens of Europe are key stakeholders too, and we hope that developing.
through this week, and through the media, we can create a more
favourable public opinion towards foundations. Do you think the public character of this event is a sign
In terms of what comes out of it, first of all we hope that founda‑ that foundations are opening themselves up more to
tions will learn from each other. I think it’s very important to share the public?
experiences and to see how we can leverage our resources if We all insist that transparency and accountability are corner‑
we work in partnership. Second, we want to show all our stake‑ stones of our governance systems. We must not only be transpar‑
holders, from the common citizen to the European institutions ent, we must also be proactive in showing what we do.
responsible, that we are playing an important role in the public life
of Europe in all kinds of spheres.
Emílio Rui Vilar is EFC Chair
and President of Fundação
What kinds of effort have been made to engage Calouste Gulbenkian,
Portugal
policymakers?
We have members of the European Parliament, officials from
the European Commission and the President of the Council of
Europe coming. Yesterday [1 June] I had a long conversation with
the officials working on the European Foundation Statute, so I
think our message is gradually getting through – though we can‑
not consider that this is a one‑shot work. For instance, today there
was a constructive and positive suggestion from MEPs that we
should do something in the European Parliament to illustrate the
work of European foundations.
Foundation Week 1
Interview
Gerry Salole
“There’s a confidence in European
philanthropy that wasn’t there ten
years ago.”
2 Foundation Week
The Open Days Of the 59 session organizers, 64 per Over half of attendees (56 per cent)
Some facts and figures cent were EFC members and 36 per were first‑time visitors.
cent non‑members. Of those attending, 31 per cent said
A total of 2,197 people visited the More than 100 films showcasing the their reason was to attend sessions
Open Days, of which 549 registered work of foundations were shown. relevant to their field of work, while
for the AGA as well. Of the 20 exhibitors, only two were 26 per cent cited networking
532 organizations were represented, not members of the EFC. opportunities and 23 per cent wanted
including European institutions, 87 per cent of attendees were not to find out more about foundations
NGOs, companies and universities, members of the EFC. By contrast, at and their activities.
as well as foundations. the AGA, 66 per cent of attendees
A total of 62 events took place. were EFC members.
Foundation Week 3
The Open Days
The JRCT visionaries Heather Parker and Mark Hinton change to have a stronger presence in
Set up Freshfields Vision Project in high‑level negotiations.
Karen Chouhan Founder of Equanomics Coventry, UK, to build bridges in a Clive Stafford Smith A campaigning
UK, a grassroots movement seeking to local UK community and between that human rights lawyer whose aim is to close
promote racial equality through economic community and the developing world. illegal enclaves like Guantanamo Bay
justice, and of the Roots research centre Carne Ross Set up diplomatic and what he describes as its ‘evil twin’,
to back up the movement. advisory groups to help developing Bagram Air Base.
Roy Head Uses the power of mass and small states, and non‑state actors Geoff Tansey A writer and consultant
media to save lives in developing involved in diplomatic processes. This who works across borders and sectoral
countries. Through the use of mass media, helps, for example, small island states boundaries to promote a world in
many potentially life‑saving interventions bearing the brunt of the effects of climate which everyone can feed themselves
can be rolled out simply and quickly. sustainably.
project, JRCT turned most of accepted grantmaking practice on partnership is crucial in working on a problem that is essentially
its head – funding individuals and not requiring a detailed plan or multi‑sectoral. Its backing has also helped to make the multilateral
a set of targets. Even the application form, as Geoff Tansey rue‑ development banks realize the need to work together on road
fully remarked, had been novel in the extreme. As Stephen Pittam investment programmes. World Bank analysis and statistics are
reminded participants, the session was partly aimed at encour‑ tremendous ammunition in any argument, he added.
aging foundations to take more risks. He added that, while the For their part, foundations could provide both small amounts
project has come to an end, the work of the visionaries has not, of very flexible money and their own specialist knowledge and
and there is space for other funders to step in and help continue access to networks. Bertelsmann Stiftung, for instance, demon‑
the work that has begun. strated how they had done this in two of the programmes on
And the effects of the projects themselves? As usual with which they worked with the Bank: Cities of Change and Towards
far‑reaching ideas, many of these will be seen only in the years European Integration.
to come. In the short term, said JRCT trustee Peter Coltman, you It’s not all plain sailing, however. Jenny Hodgson, of the Global
can count the prisoners released from Guantanamo Bay or the Fund for Community Foundations, and David Ward had both
numbers saved by mass media interventions in healthcare. Finally, found the experience of working with the Bank bruising at times,
however, he quoted anthropologist Margaret Mead: ‘Never doubt with the divide between the contrasting cultures a difficult one
that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change to bridge. Both Hodgson and Ward had assumed – wrongly, as
the world.’ Plainly, JRCT didn’t, and by the end of the session, no it turned out – that once the Bank was involved, money would
one else in the room did either. automatically flow. It didn’t, and in both cases there had been a
misunderstanding about who was raising funds for an initiative.
The Bank remains a difficult institution to navigate. You have
New partnership models, to find a champion, as Barry Gaberman remarked, and this takes
new opportunities: time. Then the champion moves on to another department and
you have to start again.
Working with the World Bank Jennifer Barsky highlighted the need to find a concrete issue
to broaden impact on which to build a partnership. This takes time and patience.
Marc Shotten, the Bank’s principal in the road safety initiative,
Working in partnership, the World Bank and foundations can noted three necessary preconditions for the creation of a suc‑
increase the impact of a programme by bringing to it their different cessful partnership: it should redefine the development debate; it
and often complementary skills. However, there are a number of should help devise and implement a solution to the issue in ques‑
things to beware of: both the expectations of the programme and tion; and it should produce sustained, measurable momentum.
the roles of each partner in it need to be made clear at the outset. So while there are real opportunities to advance development,
Each side also has to realize that building a partnership takes there are also challenges. The Bank is not blind to these and is
time. As Jennifer Barsky of the World Bank’s Foundation Unit, willing to listen. ‘We need a partnership unit at the Bank,’ Barsky
who moderated this session, remarked at the start, collaboration observed. ‘That is what I’m hearing.’ Foundations, she suggested,
between the two is more about pooling and leveraging skills than need to help the Bank determine what form this should take.
it is about money.
Partnership with the Bank in a road safety initiative for the
developing world, said David Ward of the FAI Foundation, has
been critical to leveraging the issue with the UN (the UN has Andrew Milner is Alliance
Associate Editor
now declared a decade of action on road safety). Moreover,
Giacomo Puccini The first day of Foundation Week ended had been a fire, no one was taking any
with an operatic concert courtesy of notice). All four singers were on stage for
operatic concert Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lucca, a second encore. The pianist hesitated
From Lucca to Brussels, with two male and two female singers for a moment, then the tenor Fulvio
a journey without end performing a selection of Puccini’s Oberto (pictured above left) took on the
most famous arias. Puccini was born challenge and his astonishingly powerful
in Lucca and died in Brussels, in 1924. voice soared above the siren. A great
A wonderful concert ended with the demonstration of how to respond in times
interruption of a shrieking alarm (if there of crisis!
The second day ended with a extremely important and it’s frequently
reception hosted jointly by Donors lacking on the political scene. I would
and Foundations Networks in Europe be very happy as a former head of state
(DAFNE) and the EFC Governing to see foundations have more visibility,
Council. The keynote speaker was more cooperation between them, and to
Vaira Vike‑Freiberga (pictured above see how they can better interact, both
right), President of Latvia from 1999 to with European institutions and with the
2007 and now Vice‑President of the governments of every member state.’
Reflection Group on the long‑term future
of the European Union.
‘Foundations frequently do the sort
of work that governments don’t manage
to do,’ she said. ‘They have expertise
that allows them to look at questions
in depth or in breadth as they choose;
they have the leisure to choose their
priorities; they don’t have to worry
about the next election; and they can
look long‑term. The long‑term view is
In keeping with the change in format for this year’s AGA, a week‑long
Interactive Fair ran alongside, designed to bring foundations together
and allow them to showcase their work to fellow foundations, the
public, and representatives of the European institutions. A smaller
‘interactive fair’ was trialled last year in Rome, but it was held on the
last day of the conference when most people had either left or were
busy with last‑minute catch‑ups, so many delegates missed out on it.
espite the slightly soulless basement surround‑ suggestions that in future films be screened in the evening, or put
ings, the fair was a bright and inviting area, with online to allow more people to see them.
Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian’s Darwin exhi‑
bition taking pride of place in the centre. The Touching every sense
problem was getting people to it. Sessions were The stall run by Fondazione di Venezia described their latest
all on the other side of the SQUARE maze, and museum, M9, as an ‘exhibition space that will stimulate all the
until lunch was served there on Wednesday there was little to visitor’s senses’. As if following their lead, the Fair developed what
get conference attendees down there. Similarly, there was little the Cinema Corner started, providing different and stimulating
encouragement on the outside of the SQUARE to entice mem‑ displays that indeed touched every sense.
bers of the public. That said, once there, people were impressed, Fundación ONCE had set up a basketball court where the
and eager to walk around the stalls. wheelchair basketball team they sponsor, CD Fundosa ONCE,
currently ranked fourth in Europe, showcased their skills. It also
The cinema corner allowed people to try wheelchair basketball, giving them an
On arrival, visitors were greeted with the Cinema Corner, which insight into the challenges of being disabled. With visitors from a
showed a variety of documentaries, shorts and animated films school trip and people from the European Commission giving it a
showcasing the diverse work that foundations are involved in. go, the organizers saw it as a great success in highlighting their
As Inês de Oliveira Magalhães of the EFC explained, the Cinema work and making important connections.
Corner was not about promoting the Similarly, the European Cultural Foundation ran a very inter‑
foundations themselves, but rather delv‑ active stall, featuring The Cloud, a ‘guided tour of the historical
ing into the issues that are at the heart museum of the future’. For them it was a very special week and,
of their programming. Overwhelmed by in contrast to previous closed EFC conferences, gave them the
interest from foundations, the Cinema opportunity to link policy and practice, meeting the public and
Corner was extended to run all week, with people from the EU institutions and other foundations.
some very interesting and hard‑hitting
films, especially one I saw on female cir‑ A reason in prison
cumcision called The Secret Pain. With One central and often busy stall was that of Compagnia di San
a full programme of sessions elsewhere Paolo. A foundation of banking origin, Compagnia was showcas‑
in the building, it was difficult to find time ing and presenting its initiatives in prison, which gave the stall
to watch as much as one wanted. The the name: ‘a reason in prison’. It showed their efforts to support
initiative was very popular, however, with work, skills and education in prison, with the aim of rehabilitat‑
ing offenders. Prisoners receive a small salary for their work and
Jan Despiegelaere
What do you think of Foundation
Week so far (at the end of day one)?
I really like the new concept of already heard of a lot of people who are
Foundation Week because it has an coming to Foundation Week who have
‘open day’ philosophy to open it up never been attached to the EFC and
to other people rather than the usual never taken part in any of these events
suspects who attend these kinds of before. These people really seemed
conferences. So they really tried − and attracted by this new concept. It’s a very
Jan Despiegelaere is Coordinator of
they succeeded − to lower the entrance good idea and I’m looking forward to Community Foundation West Flanders
to make it accessible to more people, attending as many sessions as possible. at King Baudouin Foundation
and I think that’s very interesting. I’ve
Darwin’s Evolution
The centrepiece of Foundation Week’s Interactive Fair was an exhibition
on the life and work of naturalist Charles Darwin, mounted by Fundação
Calouste Gulbenkian. ‘We decided to organize an exhibition on Darwin
in our headquarters in Lisbon to commemorate the 200th anniversary of
his birth and 150 years since the publication of On the Origin of Species,’
explains Emílio Rui Vilar, Fundacão Calouste Gulbenkian President.
n fact, the original, much larger, version of the exhibition perpetuate themselves. That makes it particularly appropriate for
opened in Lisbon on 12 February 2009, the 200th anni‑ this big gathering of foundations and the altruistic purposes of
versary of Darwin’s birth, and ran until 24 May, attracting our work.’
162,000 visitors. It also served as an educational outreach Moreover, believes Vilar, the exhibition has other lessons to
programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, teach us. ‘I think the work of Darwin calls our attention to pre‑
through which more than 1,500 school groups visited the sent challenges of environmental sustainability. Species fight for
exhibition and participated in activities related to the themes of survival but their survival depends very much on the existence
Darwin and evolution. of adequate conditions.’ Our use of limited resources and our
For the scaled‑down version of the exhibition presented at pollution of others such as air and water are diminishing those
Foundation Week, an enclosed space was constructed in the conditions, he believes. ‘His [Darwin’s] work also shows very
exhibition hall. The outside walls of this showed the intellectual clearly that we live on one planet, that we must preserve diversity.
and scientific context to Darwin’s work, while inside Darwin’s On the other hand, there is a unity in it and in the principles on
life and works were explored and illustrated with a selection of which life is based.’
the interactive media developed for the original exhibition and a The exhibition is currently based in Spain and will be presented
number of original objects. These included a drama‑documentary in Porto in November this year. Its display in Porto will become the
on Darwin’s discovery and exposition of the theory of evolution, focus for the creation of a new Museum of Biodiversity in the city’s
film clips of scientists explaining the centrality of Darwin’s work university, and most of its contents will form the basis of a new
to modern scientific thought, samples of plants and beetles col‑ science museum in Oeiras, Portugal, next year.
lected by Darwin during his voyage,
and copies of his seminal work On
the Origin of Species in a number of
languages. The original exhibition
Apart from the evident general In its original concept for the Gulbenkian life and achievements, while the third
interest of the exhibition, there was exhibition space, ‘Darwin’s Evolution’ section focused on post‑Darwinian
another important reason for staging was organized in three sections. To begin developments, such as the modern
it during Foundation Week. ‘In his with, visitors were shown the cultural study of genetics. Finally, there was an
book Descent of Man,’ explains Vilar, and scientific context of Darwin’s time. interactive laboratory and a module on
‘Darwin clearly demonstrates that This was illustrated by a recreation of our current understanding of global and
in both human and non‑human com‑ Ole Worm’s cabinet of natural curiosities human evolution. The exhibition is on
munities, where there are benevolent, and a replica of the Beagle. The display at the Parque de las Ciencias in
altruistic practices, those communi‑ second element centred on Darwin’s Granada until October 2010.
ties are more likely to survive and
The Cloud
A historical
guided tour
into the future
It’s 2060. You’re about to be taken on a guided tour of
the year 2010 exhibition in an interactive museum. Your
guides are Ardai and van Loo, who model themselves
on the two people who, in 2010, first discovered the
Cloud, a virtual compendium of information and sense
perception which allows people in 2060 to live in a
world where the keynote feelings are compassion and
empathy. As a theatrical convenience, the Cloud has a
personality and can speak.
12 The AGA
mílio Rui Vilar, Gerry Salole, Luc Tayart de Borms, 83 billion and 150 billion annually on projects and programmes,
Francis Charhon – all stress the importance of the and providing employment for up to 1 million Europeans.
statute in their interviews in this report. President of
the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, address‑ The opening plenary
ing a special plenary, acknowledged it to be ‘a sen‑ This year’s AGA opened with a debate on the results of an EFC/
sible idea’ and exhorted European foundations to be Gallup poll of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)
patient for a year or two longer. ‘Ideas need time; even sensible which gauged how much they know about foundations and the
ideas,’ he told them. work they do. The survey was carried out in February and March
‘A statute enabling foundations in Europe to work in neigh‑ this year, and 92 MEPs responded – 12–13 per cent of the total,
bouring countries is long overdue. Not having this mechanism in with a representative spread of age, gender, nationality and politi‑
place is stopping foundations from realizing their potential – and cal party. Of those who responded, a large majority were familiar
in these difficult financial times foundations have an increasingly with foundations and many had had direct contact with them. Of
important role to play,’ said Gerry Salole, Chief Executive of the the almost 20 per cent with no knowledge of foundations, many
EFC, in the opening plenary. said none had approached them. As many as 83 per cent said
Under current regulation, a foundation in one of the EU’s 27 they would be interested in meeting foundations active in their
member states will find it hard to set up a programme in another fields of expertise.
European country even if it has the funds to do so. ‘This is not in Perceptions of foundations and the role they play were over‑
line with the European vision that we all support so fervently,’ said whelmingly positive. Almost 90 per cent said foundations play an
Salole. A recent study by the EU estimated that there are some important role in society, while 75 per cent agreed that founda‑
110,000 foundations in Europe, collectively spending between tions play a role no other organization could play. The public good
A conversation with
the institutions Caroline Hartnell
The AGA 13
was the concept that respondents associated most closely with
How much do foundations. Piloting new initiatives and helping underprivileged
MEPs know about groups were the two most recognized roles, the latter being more
prevalent in new member states.
foundations?
Around 70 per cent said they felt relatively Foundations’ role in the EU 2020 Agenda
knowledgeable about foundations. Do foundations have a role to play in the EU 2020 Agenda, defined
83 per cent said they could name a on the official website as ‘a vision of Europe’s social market econ‑
foundation – though only two‑thirds could omy for the 21st century’ and ‘a strategy for smart, sustainable
actually do so. and inclusive growth’? Of MEPs responding to the survey, 70 per
36 per cent had worked with a foundation; cent said yes but most didn’t know what it should be.
this figure was higher among younger Perhaps the most significant finding was that almost 90 per
people. cent of respondents said that MEPs should have a role in promot‑
13 per cent had established a foundation; ing foundations in Europe; 73 per cent said they would back a
those from new member states were five proposal for a European Foundation Statute.
times as likely to have done so. Gerry Salole was encouraged by the results. ‘Now is the time
27 per cent had received a grant from a for foundations to open the door and go in,’ he said. ‘It’s not the
foundation; the figure was twice as high in time for foundations to be shy. Europe is in deep crisis and foun‑
new member states. dations have a unique role to play.’
14 The AGA
recently piloted a migrants programme that was later taken up Are MEPs doing enough to use the unexploited potential of
by government. foundations? Could they approach them to help work in their
Despite all this talk of partnerships, are European foundations constituencies? It was generally agreed that decision‑makers
still too near‑sighted in their relationships? ‘Is globalization pass‑ should take advantage of their untapped potential and founda‑
ing you by?’ Akwasi Aidoo of TrustAfrica asked European founda‑ tions should make the case and contribute to Europe. For Salole,
tions, which, he said, are less global than US foundations. Salole the next step is to contact those MEPs who have indicated
disputed this. ‘You must not be fooled by the inter‑galactic noise,’ themselves to be willing to work with foundations. One valuable
he said. He pointed to research funding as an example, and the outcome of the EFC/Gallup poll is the identification of a group
amount going into research in African universities. ‘We think 8 of MEPs who want to work with foundations and are willing to
per cent of European foundations work outside Europe,’ he said. support the European Foundation Statute.
Steve Gunderson
View from across the pond a larger role in the social lives of our
citizens. I suspect that today we are
beginning to see a recognition within
“I couldn’t help wondering if this crisis and philanthropy’s response isn’t Europe that governments are limited,
the next chapter in our tepid walk towards a more global definition of by resources if not desire, in how much
philanthropy’s role in society.” they can/should do for their people.
And as European governments begin a
difficult era of fiscal discipline, I suspect
On Wednesday morning, in a session was soon followed by the Programme that European philanthropy will be
called ‘Walking through the EU maze’, Committee Chair, Luc Tayart de Borms pressured – by its social conscience
Janis Emmanouilidis of the European of King Baudouin Foundation, who if not for political reasons – to do more
Policy Centre began a most important made clear, ‘This conference is not in support of the common good of its
conversation on the impact of the business as usual.’ fellow citizens.
current credit and political crisis in the As if these two comments were not In some ways, Europe and the
European Union on philanthropy’s role sufficient, Gerry Salole, the EFC’s Chief US are again taking a step towards
in society – especially European society. Executive, was even more direct. He more common definitions of the
His remarks, most of them rather said bluntly, ‘This is not the moment respective roles of the public, private
pessimistic about the ability of for foundations to be shy, to withdraw. and philanthropic sectors. I’ve long
European nations to rise above Europe is in a deep crisis and it needs suggested that the early years of the
domestic politics for the good of the civil society to engage.’ All three voices 21st century will define philanthropy’s
EU, set the stage for an incredible set of displayed the appropriate leadership we role as one growing in size, service and
conversations at this conference. At the now seek from philanthropy in today’s scrutiny. Now, after two consecutive
opening session of the EFC conference, world. Good for them! economic crises, those words remain
Emílio Rui Vilar of Fundação Calouste But I couldn’t help wondering if this true. Philanthropy will grow in size –
Gulbenkian began by saying, ‘These crisis and philanthropy’s response both in Europe and the US. Philanthropy
are, indeed, times of uncertainty.’ He isn’t the next chapter in our tepid walk will do more. And as the informal, if not
towards a more global definition of formal, partnership between the public
philanthropy’s role in society. Over and philanthropic sectors continues to
the past two years, we in the US have grow we must accept the fact that the
witnessed a more activist federal scrutiny of our sector – both in what we
government taking a careful look at do and how we do it – will also grow.
what is the appropriate level of the
public sector safety net and protection
for our citizens. As we all know, the US Steve Gunderson is President of the
US‑based Council on Foundations.
has long supported both a stronger These comments were first published as
market‑based system and limited a contribution to Alliance’s Foundation
Week blog.
government, with philanthropy playing
The AGA 15
This special plenary, chaired Mark Walport focuses on the global challenges
by EFC Chair Emílio Rui Vilar, The plenary began with a presentation by Mark Walport of the
Wellcome Trust, who focused largely on the global challenges we
focused on how foundations can face and how these will push foundations to be more effective.
contribute to the development ‘The global challenges are so great,’ he said, ‘that foundations will
of a stronger Europe in the years be forced to think hard and make choices as to where they can
make the most difference.’ He went on to suggest some concrete
to come, a Europe that is better guidelines:
equipped to serve citizens in the Foundations must think in terms of partnership, not
27 member states. Both plenary substitution: we mustn’t do what others, either government or
private sector, would do otherwise.
speakers expressed their support We must avoid entering open‑ended funding commitments,
for the idea of a European without partners.
Foundation Statute to enable Our work must be excellent.
Finally, we can’t do everything.
European foundations to work
more effectively. He gave some examples of Wellcome’s own work which he felt
matched these demanding standards. One was the Human
The
Genome Project, for which the Wellcome Trust provided one‑third
of the funding. If foundations want to maximize impact, the digital
universe makes wide dissemination possible. Human genome
European
sequences are now available to all, through the European
Bioinformatics Institute.
Finally, Walport emphasized the importance of the European
Foundation Statute. The challenge is for Europe to be an enabler
game
for what foundations do, he said. ‘Our biggest resource is the
people of Europe. We need to remove bureaucratic red tape,
encourage donations and encourage innovation.’ In the light
of the global challenges we face around poverty, environment
plan
and sustainability, ‘European foundations are needed as they’ve
never been needed before.’ The European Foundation Statute is
essential to enable foundations to play this much‑needed role,
he insisted.
16 The AGA
suggested that it isn’t always easy at all. One tension emerged participant referred to the problem of high staff turnover in the
in relation to the Platform for Intercultural Dialogue – an initiative DGs (Directorates‑General).
facilitated by the European Cultural Foundation and supported These difficulties in fact point to a valuable role for foundations.
by five other foundations. The Platform was established to pro‑ While NGOs can be literally ruined by the bureaucracy, late pay‑
mote practice exchanges between grassroots organizations and ments, etc, all this is much more manageable for foundations.
to act as an interlocutor between these organizations and the They have cash and can cope with the delays and outlay of time.
EU institutions. Today 11 European‑level and 26 national‑level Foundations can offer a service to NGOs, said Gerrit Raws of
organizations in 18 countries are involved. They are in ‘structured King Baudouin Foundation, which interacts with the EU institu‑
dialogue’ with the EU institutions. While convinced they can tions in several ways. While foundations should not undermine
have policy influence, they also realize that the EU institutions the chances of NGOs getting grants, they can usefully take on
would prefer to collaborate with large European‑level associa‑ an intermediary role, he said, and provide support for those with
tions rather than local‑level organizations, though this is where the good projects who don’t have sufficient expertise.
best work is often done. The EU likes to support innovation but in There may also be a role for the EFC in all this: presenting best
practice only supports organizations that have been in existence foundation funding practices to EU institutions. Raws, among
for five years. others, was a bit dubious about whether it’s worth expending time
There are also practical difficulties, described by Sabine Frank, and effort doing this. In his experience, new people in the EU are
Secretary‑General of the Platform. EU application processes always keen to simplify the funding processes and then find they
and reporting requirements are lengthy and time‑consuming, can’t. Underlying the endless red tape is huge pressure from the
and payments often come late. Only the larger, more experienced European Parliament not to make any mistakes, and above all to
NGOs could hope to deal with the extent of bureaucracy involved, avoid fraud. In his view, foundations just have to learn to deal with
referred to by one speaker as ‘cumbersome and horrible’. Another it, and to support those less able to do so. One thing was clear: if
anyone is to take on this project, it has to be the EFC.
Herman Van Rompuy live and prosper without that feeling On the European Foundation Statute
of ‘togetherness’ and ‘belonging to Since foundations do so much work
Extracts from his something’. That is why your foundations to enhance the public good, they are
speech to the EFC are important, both on a national and on entitled to ask at some point: what does
special plenary on a European level. our political system do for us?
I value the social contribution of In your case, per definition, politicians
3 June foundations highly – both your work should only create the conditions.
within the member states and your The European Foundation Centre has
On the role of foundations work in bringing the citizens of different strongly made the case for a European
We need strong institutions, certainly in member states together. Both are Foundation Statute: one legal framework
a stormy period of rising individualism important! for public benefit foundations in 27
and populism. We also need a strong civil I do not underestimate a foundation member states. This would reduce
society to strengthen social coherence in that operates only in one village, for cross‑border barriers and stimulate
a period of change. one school, for one hospital, far away in foundation activities more generally. It is
‘Change’ can be an objective, but Portugal or Finland. It is great if there are a sensible idea.
‘change’ can also be dictated from the contacts with other nationalities, but in In European politics, however, ideas
outside. We constantly have to adapt my view this is no requirement to pass need time; even sensible ideas, and
ourselves to a new world. But we also the test of being a ‘good’ European. The sometimes especially sensible ideas!
have to ensure stability in our societies. ‘Europe’ I cherish does not only exist
Organizations and structures are in cross‑border projects. The Union is In conclusion
indispensable actors between the state made up of about 500 million people I should like to congratulate you on the
and individuals. A democracy cannot living in 27 democracies. The European important work you do. You constitute a
public good cannot flourish without vital link between European citizens and
vibrant cities, without lively villages, the work of the Union. You are a symbol
without well‑functioning member and a guarantee of our European way
states. And I think that in the Union we of life.
are all more and more aware of this
Herman Van Rompuy is President of the
interconnection. European Council
The AGA 17
Advocacy in the framework of Europe: How to influence said. ‘As foundations, if we’re not using every asset we have to
policy making? access the people we have unique access to, we’re not doing
There was much talk during the AGA of advocacy with the EU our job.’ She stressed the importance of the ‘honest broker’ role
institutions, but a breakout session on ‘Advocacy in the frame‑ foundations can play: they can access and bring together gov‑
work of Europe’ turned out to be more a discussion of how foun‑ ernment and other sectors. And if they have board approval in
dations can support advocacy per se. One of the main issues advance, they can act quickly and take advantage of often very
for those carrying out advocacy with EU institutions seems to short windows of opportunity.
be understanding how they work. More generally, the discussion But Nicolas Borsinger of the Pro Victimis Foundation sup‑
focused largely on whether foundations should engage in advo‑ ported Pittam. Organizations like the Diana, Princess of Wales
cacy themselves or support others to do it. Memorial Fund and Fundación ONCE have real weight in their
Views on this varied considerably. ‘Wouldn’t you like these own countries, he said, but most foundations, including his own,
foundations just to give you the money and get off your back?’ don’t. ‘Most foundations who want to support advocacy need to
Stephen Pittam of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) support NGOs that do have credibility and expertise and stay
asked Carlotta Besozzi of the European Disability Forum. back.’
‘Carlotta, be brave, speak your truth,’ he encouraged her. Besozzi Christopher Harris, formerly with the Ford Foundation, made
was politic in her reply, insisting that ‘added value on top of fund‑ the point that, unlike the two examples presented, most foun‑
ing needs to be decided jointly’. dation support for advocacy is ineffective. A huge amount of
Astrid Bonfield of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund money may not be needed, but foundations must be willing to
disagreed with Pittam, drawing on her experience of supporting offer long‑term core support, with capacity building for their NGO
a campaign to ban cluster bombs. ‘It’s not just about money,’ she partners if needed.
18 The AGA
The second day of the AGA ended with a
networking reception at the Musée Magritte
Museum, situated in the Altenloh Hotel in
the heart of Brussels. The museum, which
opened in 2009, was partly funded by the
Magritte Foundation and displays over 200
works by the surrealist artist. A large number
of delegates attended the reception to mingle
and enjoy the unique surroundings. After
dark, the party continued with dancing at the
BELvue Museum.
The AGA 19
Interview anger; we live in dangerous
times. I was telling our banker
20 The AGA
The closing plenary
began with the
awarding of the
Raymond Georis
Prize for Innovative
Philanthropy in
Europe, now in its
seventh year. This
year’s winner was
Mo Ibrahim, founder
of the Mo Ibrahim
Foundation, for the
initiative he has
developed to promote
better governance
in Africa.
The AGA 21
Hero rats saving people’s lives
Sylvain Piraux
The photo competition
The awarding of the Raymond Georis Prize was followed by the
announcement of the photo competition results. This year’s win‑
ner, submitted by King Baudouin Foundation, shows hero rats
saving people’s lives. Ludwig Forrest, who received the prize on
behalf of KBF, explained that the rat is a real hero, educated by
Tanzanian organization Apopos to detect landmines and diag‑
nose tuberculosis.
22 The AGA
MOUs with the EFC.
Below: Marwan Awartani
signs on behalf of the Arab Interview
Foundations Forum.
Left: Serge Raicher signs on
Chet Tchozewski
behalf of the European Venture
Philanthropy Association
“My impression is that it was
an experiment and I think a
successful one.”
The AGA 23
Interview
Francis Charhon
“I don’t know where the idea
Photo Pavol Demes
Going back to something you said in your speech in American organization with an international programme. In fact,
the closing plenary, do you think the EFC should be a they are less international than the EFC, but perhaps that’s not
European organization or an international one? a good idea.
For me this has been an important question from the beginning.
It’s curious because this is something that has never been clear. I think what the rest of the world, particularly the
It’s probably why we were able to grow up. When we started Americans, want is a strong Europe. They’re worried that
we were European and we were helped by many international the debt crisis in the eurozone is going to bring the rest
organizations, and we were extremely happy to be supported. of the world down.
Since then the organization has gone in two directions – one But crisis is good for Europe. Each time there is a crisis we find a
international and one European. I liked the idea of the European new solution and we step up. I don’t know where the idea comes
Foundation Statute – I was in fact the father of the idea – because from that Europe can disappear or anything like that, but it’s
of the European perspective. In my view, the EFC is a European impossible. When I think of the European Foundation Statute,
institution which can have very strong relationships with the and the EFC, these are political projects to reinforce the citizen‑
Council on Foundations and other non‑European organizations. ship of Europe, so that we can have institutions in which we can
Whenever the idea is to reinforce Europe, people start to recognize ourselves.
say you have to enlarge, you have to create a new space. They
are constantly trying to update the idea of Europe and the spirit Do you feel encouraged by Herman Van Rompuy’s
of what we are doing. The question is: is the EFC working as remarks about the statute happening?
an international organization for Europe in the world or it is a I’m sure it’s going to happen. I never quit!
European organization working for Europe in the world? It’s a
difficult question to answer. Francis Charhon is Chief Executive
Officer of Fondation de France
24 The AGA
The AGA AGA sessions offered the chance to discuss various
EU policies, and also more general sector‑wide
Some session issues such as impact measurement, partnerships
and the use of social media. Some session
highlights highlights are shown on the next two pages.
Impact measurement, evaluation, demonstrating the value of their privileged fiscal status in what
benchmarking, non‑profit analysis could sometimes be a hostile climate.
Any evaluation, suggested Jordan, especially one to track
– what works? long‑term change, needs to be built into the planning stage of a
Andrew Milner programme. This would enable progress on the perennially diffi‑
cult questions of evaluation: attribution, measuring advocacy, and
Over the past few years, remarked Barry Knight of CENTRIS, the disparity between the time it takes results to appear and the
who co‑presented this session, techniques and tools for evalua‑ need to commit funds to programmes. Collecting baseline data,
tion have proliferated. How do you choose one over another? He for instance, would provide a means of comparative analysis.
proposed four basic rules: it should be owned by the organiza‑ Both stressed, however, that there is no ‘philosopher’s stone’
tion using it – that is, it should be seen as an integral part of the – no single technique or method that will serve for all eventu‑
organization and staff should be comfortable using it; it should alities. You have to choose the method to suit the job and, even
be useful; it should be robust (that is, deliver valid and reliable when you have found the right tool, you are likely to have to modify
results); and it should be simple. it to your particular requirements.
Fellow presenter Lisa Jordan of the Bernard van Leer Finally, as Knight observed, evaluation is a developing disci‑
Foundation also pointed out the distinction between evaluating pline. As with each individual evaluation, the discipline, with many
a foundation’s programmes and evaluating the institution itself. diversions and course corrections, is edging closer to accurate
Most are more ready to do the former, yet understanding their results. Both Knight and Jordan are trying to build a community of
impact as grantmaking institutions is imperative not only for practice that should include not only foundations but also other
learning how to make the best use of their resources but also for organizations that have the same value base.
Beyond the emergency: lessons bypassed what was left of Haiti’s public authorities and had, in
from disaster response some cases, undermined existing very effective programmes.
It didn’t have to be like this. Not everyone, said Borsinger, has
Andrew Milner the right to intervene in the wake of a disaster. The government
in question and/or the international community should establish
Public attention for disasters is short‑lived and the funds raised a priority system for relief agencies that could do essential work.
for them are not always well spent, said Rien van Gendt of the Van Accompaniment was the term Mukherjee used to describe the
Leer Group Foundation, who chaired this session. Do founda‑ way Partners in Health works with both local communities and
tions have a different role in responding to disasters from relief public sector authorities to strengthen their hand. We need to
agencies, and if so what is it? He outlined five rules from the book be able to fund and assist the grassroots and to work with public
produced by the Foundation Center last year on disaster grant‑ authorities so that governments and communities can together
making: stop, look and listen; don’t act in isolation; think beyond build a society that works. The absence of this in Haiti and in other
the current emergency; use the expertise of local organizations; disaster regions has made calamities infinitely worse. We also
and be accountable to those you are trying to help. need to be more radical in tracking the money raised for disaster
Most of the two presenters’ (Joia Mukherjee of Partners in relief, she urged, and to be accountable for the waste of money.
Health and Nicolas Borsinger of Pro Victimis Foundation) remarks Is there a particular role for philanthropy? For one thing,
naturally focused on the Haiti earthquake, but both also spoke said Suzanne Siskel of the Ford Foundation, we need to take a
from their experience of other disasters. Both broadly agreed that long‑term approach. As van Gendt had noted, the world’s atten‑
Haiti relief efforts had almost amounted to what Mukherjee called tion faded quickly although it was clear that rebuilding Haiti would
a disaster within a disaster: the UN’s cluster system had been take years.
exclusive, bureaucratic and counter‑productive; relief efforts had
The AGA 25
What is not counted doesn’t about the 11,000 or so Spanish foundations in order to get an
count: why researching idea of their impact. Our medium‑term goal is to provide the sec‑
tor with tools to build its capacity and evaluate its performance,
foundations matters with a view to increasing its value to society.
Marta Rey García The debate that followed reminded us that a sustainable
agenda for research on European foundations not only requires
This turned out to be an exciting debate about the state of the commitment of research bodies and donors’ associations but
research on foundations in Europe, with all panellists basically also makes demands of the accountability and transparency of
agreeing that knowledge about the sector is scarce but much foundations themselves. It would also benefit from the application
needed. As Anthony Tomei of the Nuffield Foundation, chairing, of mainstream academic research theories and models, and from
said, the reasons for this include: foundations’ interest in evaluat‑ a focus on international comparability that starts with streamlin‑
ing their own practice; the need for the sector to demonstrate its ing data‑gathering methods and exchanging best practice. The
impact to policymakers and potential partners; and the need for European Research Network on Philanthropy is already working
critical thinking about foundations’ role in European society. towards this.
Wioletta Gradkowska from the European Commission’s My personal concluding remark is that it also requires a new
Research Directorate‑General described the ‘Foundations view from all of us researching the ‘foundations forest’: since we
research and mapping’ (FOREMAP) project, which identifies are counting the trees, we should make an extra effort to under‑
areas of improvement and effective action in public‑private stand the ecosystem where foundations enter into long‑term rela‑
research partnerships, while John Healy from the Centre for tionships with the public, business and civil society sectors, and
Nonprofit Management, Trinity College, Dublin proposed rein‑ to understand how these relationships can ultimately generate
forcing the quality and international scope of existing centres for social capital.
research and teaching rather than creating new ones.
Marta Rey Garcia is assistant professor
The session provided me with an opportunity to talk about the at the University of A Coruña, Spain
research that the Institute for Strategic Analysis of Foundations and director of INAEF. This report is
based on her contribution to Alliance ’s
(INAEF) is undertaking. The project’s first step is to gather data Foundation Week blog.
26 The AGA
Postscript
The new CEOs Did you feel that as a group you had things in common?
Yes, we had both variety and things in common. Between six of us
at the dinner, we come from five countries and fund across many
countries in different areas of work – science, education, criminal
On Tuesday 1 June, six new justice, migration. But what we had in common was that we were
foundation CEOs came together all trying to get to grips with an organization that was new to us,
for dinner, giving them the chance and/or a new sector, sometimes in a new country. I think it’s a bit
lonely being a new chief exec – you have to forge a new relation‑
to share their experiences of ship with your board, and some things take a bit of time to learn to
taking the helm. Caroline Hartnell navigate, like issues of governance and management.
talked to one of them to find out Meeting up helped us to have that daybreak moment of reali‑
zation that someone else is experiencing some of what you’re
how it went. experiencing. We didn’t just talk about things that we were finding
difficult, but also about the optimism of being agents for social
Interview change and about wanting to drive better impact measurement
and better understanding of what we’re trying to achieve.
Sara Llewellin
The fact that you’re all women is obviously an interesting
“Meeting up helped us to have that daybreak moment thing in itself. Do you think it adds anything to the
of realization that someone else is experiencing dynamic of the group? Would it have been different if it
some of what you’re experiencing” had been mixed?
I think it is inevitably a different dynamic. We’ve all grown up try‑
You were one of the people who attended the dinner for ing to change a cultural dynamic of male supremacy. We weren’t
the new CEOs earlier in the week. I think the notable grouping together around the issue of glass ceilings or how other
thing about the new group is that it’s almost all women? people perceive us as women in senior positions, but I think it
That’s right. Apparently almost all of the new appointments to does inevitably affect the tone of the conversation.
CEO positions among EFC members over the past year have
been women. There is one man, but he was unable to attend the Do women tend to have a different style of leadership
dinner. This is unusual in continental Europe, but in the UK the on the whole?
foundation movement traditionally has a lot more women heads. I think so, but I think it is cultural rather than DNA, so the extent is
different in different cultures. Management culture has become
more psychological over the past decade or so anyway, so there
are a lot of men in this field whose style of management is facilita‑
tive rather than the old‑style autocratic machismo approach.
Postscript 27
What did they think?
Views from around the
Gina Anderson internationally that, at a general level, years ago and now we’re beginning to
Philanthropy the issues philanthropy is facing are look beyond Spain to the rest of Europe.
exactly the same whether you are from We have similar issues about
Australia a large advanced economy or a very cross‑border donations, being able
“We’re watching small developing economy. We’re all to work more effectively throughout
European dealing with impact and evaluation, Europe in terms of raising money. We’re
countries with measurement and transparency, interested in the European Foundation
struggle with with justifying our special tax status to Statute, and also the VAT implications.
the aftermath governments. We’ve had an opportunity to
of the global It’s so very similar and yet I think engage with other foundations, both
financial crisis, and yet I feel like we are all in danger of just tinkering at grantmaking institutions to whom we
here at the conference it’s the the edges. I think real social change often apply for funds and those that we
elephant in the room.” happens, certainly in our part of might partner with on the ground. It’s
Two things stand out for me. One the world, when foundations work been a great way to see them and, in an
is the focus on Africa, which is very with not‑for‑profits, business and informal way, exchange ideas and learn
understandable because of its government, and find that sweet spot. about opportunities with organizations
geographic closeness to Europe, Because you have all those partners that I didn’t think we would have a
whereas Asia is our focus. And of at the table, you think about things in particular match with before. It’s been
course because of that focus – Europe a very different way. Often when we very enriching.
and Africa – nowhere else makes it onto get together as foundations, what we
the map. really end up talking about is the sort Fernando Rossetti
of programme that might address part
The second thing is, on the other
of the problem but doesn’t actually GIFE, Brazil
side of the world, we’re watching
the European Union and European focus on the really hard stuff, which is “I missed the
countries struggle with the aftermath achieving social change. NGOs here and
of the global financial crisis, and yet I I see very few
feel like here at the conference it’s the Patricia Aragonés businesses, so
I’m not sure if
elephant in the room – barely mentioned Fundación Fabretto, we’ve got the
and certainly not discussed.
Europe, like Australia, has big Spain/Nicaragua right format yet.”
government. And as big government “It’s been a I think the interesting thing about this
has big debts and they’re going to have great way to conference is that foundations are trying
to cut government budgets, where’s exchange ideas to create dialogue with government. The
that money going to come from, and and learn about challenge is to create the right format
how will that hit the poor and vulnerable, opportunities for productive dialogue with different
and what is expected of foundations with institutions, like government, businesses
in response? Will it undercut organizations and NGOs. I missed the NGOs here
social funding of infrastructure for that I didn’t think we would have a and I see very few businesses, so I’m
not‑for‑profits? What’s the responsibility particular match with before.” not sure if we’ve got the right format yet.
of foundations in the face of this crisis The conference has been very Maybe you do have to focus on dialogue
at home, let alone abroad? At the informative. We are a family of three with government on the European
conference, it feels like everyone knows foundations – a US foundation and a Foundation Statute, but for many of the
it, but nobody’s talking about it. Spanish foundation exist to serve the themes, such as Africa or education or
The third comment I would make rural education programmes we operate marginalized youth, the dialogue should
is I’m always struck when I travel in Nicaragua. We began in Spain five be much wider.
28 Postscript
world
You also need to discuss public – there’s a lot of hope that foundations driving development’. Each was good,
policy, and although I don’t see that here, and philanthropic institutions are still although quite different in tone. Missing
I do see the intention. What I’m saying very enthusiastic about what they do from the first was much discussion
is that we’re all learning. There was an and eager to reach out and do more. of the role that philanthropy might
intentional focus on the dialogue with There is a proverb that says, ‘when it’s play in promoting peace. The Peace
the European Union in this conference, dark enough, you can see the stars’ and and Security Funders’ reception was
and I think we’re learning even if we I’m really happy to see that European a particular treat with philanthropic
haven’t yet achieved a format to produce foundations are not becoming more inspiration and music by Colombian
more creative or even productive insular and inward‑looking, and are keen star Juanes.
dialogue. to step forward. There is an optimistic The Global Fund for Community
atmosphere about this event that is very Foundations has just completed a
Akwasi Aidoo healthy. I haven’t heard or experienced baseline study of 50 applications for
the sort of pessimism or fear that one grants. Sound boring? Not at all. Lively
TrustAfrica senses very easily in the governmental discussion followed the presentation
“I think and private sectors, with the euro of preliminary results, focusing on the
European crisis and what’s happening in Greece importance of the community foundation
foundations can dominating the news. It’s almost as if as a model of locally driven philanthropy.
do more, and this is going in the opposite direction. I was particularly struck by the diversity
that’s my call – So it’s very optimistic, very hopeful, and in the room. Participants came from
that they should I like that. Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin
take centre But I think European foundations America, and all had important stories to
stage globally.” can do more, and that’s my call – that tell. This conference isn’t turning out to
The key point about this Foundation they should take centre stage globally. be as European as I expected.
Week and the EFC conference is There’s a lot that European foundations
that they truly represent a crossing of specifically and European philanthropy Peter Cleaves
as a whole can bring to the global
borders. Europe has a long tradition
community. Emirates Foundation,
of crossing borders – sometimes not
in a good way – and Europe itself has UAE
been knocking down its own borders. Terry Odendahl “I got gems out
I believe there is a need for European Global Greengrants of every session
philanthropy to stress that tradition I went to.”
and to live it and to go global. I see Fund, US
This conference
this week’s event as a very important “This conference focused very
step towards that. The philanthropic isn’t turning much on
community is reaching out to the out to be as European
bilateral and multilateral institutions, and European as I issues, so why would a foundation
to the Brussels institutions. With people expected.” from the Arab world be interested in
from all over the world here, it’s more I took in two attending? The fact of the matter is
than a European event and that’s a very sessions on my that the European Foundation Centre
striking thing. first day: a portion of the Peace and is a source of value for any foundation.
The good news from TrustAfrica’s Security Funders briefing on ‘A view I went to programmes on evaluation,
standpoint is that even though we from Europe’ and the Global Fund for on volunteerism, on endowment
live in a period of crisis – the financial Community Foundations’ ‘Not such a management, on climate. These are all
crisis has been the context of almost all poor cousin: understanding the unique enormous issues worldwide and I got
discussion over the last couple of years role of community philanthropy in gems out of every session I went to.
Postscript 29
The Next What they hoped
for from the
Generation programme . . .
Programme ‘I am hoping to get to know better the typology
of foundations, as it’s different to what we
have in Italy, and to get inspired by their work.’
Giulia Coss, Compagnia di San Paolo, Italy
For the first time, the EFC offered a ‘As part of the Brussels microcosm, I’m aware
of the EFC but don’t know much about the
group of 12 ‘Next Generation Leaders’ individual organizations. The Next Generation
from foundations the possibility not programme is a rare opportunity to have an
only to attend the AGA but also to be exchange of national perspectives between
younger people.’
led through it by EFC staff. Thomas Fischer, Bertelsmann Stiftung, Belgium
30 Postscript
. . . and what they got out of it
Giulia Coss Jasmijn Melse Shelia Slemp
“I liked the “The Next “When you’re
visionaries Generation labelled Next
session – it programme Generation, it
showed a gives us a safe gives people
completely environment to who’ve been
different way discuss ideas around for a while
of interpreting and the reality permission to
grantmaking from the way we do at of what we’re doing. They’re calling come up and feel comfortable giving
Compagnia.” it a leadership programme, but us advice; I felt like it opened the door
This is my second conference, but the we’re all here to learn, both within for people to introduce themselves.”
Interactive Fair is new. It has given us the group and outside.” This is my first conference in Europe,
a chance to present ourselves both to I’ve been to a few smaller conferences and getting to know different players
people who know about foundations before, but not a sector‑wide one, so in the field has been one of the most
and to those on the outside. We for me this was a great opportunity to interesting things about it – it really is an
have the chance to share ideas and immerse myself in a sector that is really interactive fair. It’s almost overwhelming,
experiences with people from different rich, diverse and dynamic. It helped the amount of new things to take in. The
backgrounds. I don’t have much me to find out more about what the Next Generation programme gave me
experience of European work, so this philanthropic sector is about, and think people to talk to about what you’ve heard,
was a chance for me to grow and learn. about the added value of foundations to find out what other people thought and
It’s a huge conference so I might have in Europe. The foundation sector to help you reflect for yourself. Although
felt a bit lost if I hadn’t had someone to is so varied in terms of focus and we’re different ages and from different
guide me towards sessions that would organizational structure, and finding backgrounds, there’s a common link of
be interesting for me. You also have out the differences and similarities can energy and wanting to share ideas. When
this group of people around that you help develop your own personal strategy you’re labelled Next Generation, it also
recognize, so you have someone on as a grantmaker. The Next Generation gives people who’ve been around for a
the same level to chat to and share your programme gives us a safe environment while permission to come up and feel
thoughts, questions or even problems. to discuss ideas and the reality of comfortable giving us advice; I felt like it
It helps us to form ideas for the future what we’re doing. They’re calling it a opened the door for people to introduce
and be a stepping stone between the leadership programme, but we’re all themselves.
older generation and younger people here to learn, both within the group I’ve been focused on philanthropy in
who don’t yet have the vision of what a and outside. You get a chance to meet Ukraine for two years, so the evaluation
foundation is. inspiring people who can advise you on session I went to got me thinking more
I liked the visionaries session – it how to acquire the knowledge and skills globally about what we’re doing. In the US,
showed a completely different way of you need for your work. We want to get where I come from originally, we have our
interpreting grantmaking from the way the best from all the different people models and our systems, but this session
we do at Compagnia. Sometimes ideals we’re meeting, both learning from the made me think about what it means
can seem a little unreal – too big to be older generation and forming our own for me here, working in an international
possible – but these people invest their ideas on the way forward. arena. Another session I enjoyed was the
money to make them happen, and they I thought the visionaries meeting community foundation session [‘Not such
reach results. The second session I liked was the most inspiring for me – it was a poor cousin’, hosted by the Global Fund
was the one about social networks and interesting to see how, after many years, for Community Foundations] – it really
how they are useful for communication. they [Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust] spoke to the issues we’re trying to tackle in
It’s probably not a method we would use really re‑engage with the vision of the Ukraine right now. The information was not
ourselves but it’s interesting to see how founders. The seven visionaries have new but the focus was different because it
different foundations work. unusual ways of approaching things, was about the implications of foundations
and it was impressive to hear how much supporting the start‑up of new community
they have achieved in the last five years. foundations. I liked that it was rooted in
It showed me again that foundations evaluation and research; it really validates
shouldn’t always go for the safe project. the work that these foundations do.
Postscript 31
Confessions from accord. It sent yet another message to us that our work ‘on the
ground’ is important to the accession discussions and process.
a Eurosceptic We really did start to get the feeling that Foundation Week would
be an important turning point for us.
Filiz Bikmen Bugay The third and final moment was on Wednesday (2 June)
when we had a series of meetings with high‑level officials at the
European Council, the European Commission and the Turkish
When I first saw that the theme for the EFC conference Embassy. One specific outcome of the meetings was the idea
2010 was ‘A Conversation with the Institutions’ I was of preparing a ‘foundation report’ of activities to inform the unit
disappointed. It seemed irrelevant to our work in Turkey, that prepares Turkey’s annual report card (known as Progress
which is not (yet?) a member state. And Brussels never Reports), which is published every October. Our input will bal‑
had any appeal for me. So I was, I believed, destined for ance the report by including examples of the positive social
an unsexy conference in an unsexy city! In the end, the change foundations are helping to create in Turkey, and the
event wrecked all my preconceptions by producing three Turkish government’s support (and, when needed, by sharing the
A‑HA moments that summarize what I consider to be a bad news and lack of support as well!). This series of meetings
major success for the EFC and for Turkish foundations. was the perfect climax to our group’s growing sense that our hori‑
The first occurred at a dinner with TUSIAD (Turkish Industrialists zons are expanding to include Europe and European relations.
and Business Association, the main EU advocacy organization So, I confess: I arrived feeling very apathetic about a ‘conversa‑
representing Turkey in Brussels) on 31 May. As representatives tion with the institutions’, and about the cold and dreary Brussels
of Turkish foundations, we were briefed on the latest develop‑ weather, but I left a sunny Brussels not only with heightened
ments in the EU and EU‑Turkey relations, and began to realize awareness and optimism about the value we as foundations
that EU‑Turkey relations are not only a job for others (the private, can offer but also with a stack of cards and great interest from
public and academic sectors) but also something foundations individuals that drive the accession process in Brussels.
need to take part in.
Filiz Bikmen Bugay is Head of
The second moment was on the following day at the panel on Programs at the Sabancı Foundation.
Turkish Foundations (1 June). There was great audience engage‑ These comments are based
on one of her contributions to
ment and discussion about, among other things, whether Turkey Alliance’s Foundation Week blog
looked east, west or both ways. One of the comments came from (http://alliancemag.wordpress.com).
Swedish MEP Anna Maria Corazza Bildt. I was both surprised
and pleased to see her come on her own time and of her own
32 Postscript
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Future EFC
events
Facing the Extremes The 2010 Grantmakers East Forum is about change and transformation in
Grantmakers East Forum geographies ‘East’, which for many funders increasingly means beyond the
26–27 October 2010 EU member countries.
Tbilisi, Georgia Georgia, aspiring for many centuries to be more closely integrated with Europe,
For more information, contact the GEF
with real prospect for European integration today, has experienced significant
Secretariat at gef@efc.be transformations in recent years. These transformations have often involved extremes,
both positive and negative. This dynamic is not unique to Georgia. The issues and
trends of transformations and extremes that will be discussed over the two-day event
resonate throughout Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia. An open dialogue
about such phenomena should help this unique community of funders examine their
own programming as well as understand better the work of their peers, and ultimately
the people they seek to serve through funding commitments.
Are we running out Good research needs good people, and European research foundations
of talent? support many thousands of researchers in the sciences and humanities.
The role of European The 2010 Annual Conference of the European Forum on Philanthropy and Research
foundations in building Funding will focus on how foundations and other funders work with the researchers
human capacity in they support to foster creativity and innovation, and encourage mobility, international
research networking and the development of the research leaders of tomorrow.
7–8 December 2010
Stuttgart, Germany
For more information, contact
Carl Dolan, Research Forum Officer at
researchforum@efc.be
Resources and Using the oceans as a metaphor, conference delegates will embark
sustainability – the on a voyage to explore the sea of opportunities and challenges facing
oceans foundations in their work.
22nd EFC Annual General Oceans act as a perfect prism through which to consider a wide array of
Assembly (AGA) and programmatic themes. They symbolize connectivity and mould our cultures by their
Conference proximity or distance. For centuries they have defined human migration patterns,
26–28 May 2011 provided livelihoods and invaluable resources, and acted as a reminder of the
Cascais, Portugal vulnerability of our environment.
For more information, visit www.efc.be
Delving deeper, the need to address the sustainability of our oceans and their
or contact aga@efc.be resources mirrors foundations’ need to consider how to make the best use of the
world’s resources (natural, human, knowledge, financial or otherwise) so that future
generations can benefit from work done now. Sustainability and long-term thinking
are imperative if foundations’ contribution to society is to be lasting and meaningful,
and not just a drop in the ocean.
In short, foundations cannot discover new oceans until they have the courage to
leave sight of the shore. With its stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Cascais
setting will give the impetus to foundations to lift their anchors.