A Discussion Paper for the Salzburg Global Seminar: Optimizing Institutional Philanthropy for the 21st Century December 11-15, 2008

(...) Philanthropists must use their unique position to lead the debate on critical issues of our day - generating innovative ideas to respond to global challenges and prevent future crises. Modern philanthropy must be ready and willing to step up to the challenge of addressing difficult, political, controversial, or unpopular issues and must learn how to do this in an efficient and timely manner. For the philanthropic community to play this role, we need new philanthropic instruments and algorithms to address potentially explosive or chronic problems on our radar screen now, and those which emerge in the next decade. New challenges require new tools and new methods for addressing them. Foundations must guarantee their investments cause maximum effect in order to ensure that our aspirations for philanthropic impact in society are met.

European philanthropic organisations are lower profile, and consequently less well-known, than their North American counterparts, but their heritage is rich and capacity to engender change runs deep. While some foundations have existed for hundreds of years, the expanding markets in Eastern Europe have seen a flurry of new philanthropic activity over the past two decades. The sector has evolved, with improved mechanisms of cooperation and expansions in venture and corporate philanthropy across the continent.

This paper explores the strategies available for philanthropy to address upcoming socioeconomic and political challenges, and investigates problems internal to the philanthropic sector. It argues that philanthropy must be proactive in addressing modern threats and issues. There is a need for a quiet revolution in philanthropy to meet the challenges of our modern world. We must learn how to lead the parade in the search for solutions rather than following from behind...

Download the Paper

By funding research into the history of European philanthropy for the book Philanthropy in Europe: a rich past, a promising future (edited by Norine MacDonald QC and Luc Tayart de Borms), the Mercator Fund has helped to document the tradition, history and diverse roles of philanthropy in Europe.

The book intends to spark an ongoing debate as the sector strives to strengthen its relevance and make a real difference in a world that is becoming more complex than ever before.

As the title suggests, philanthropy in Europe is rooted in a rich past and is looking to a promising future. This book, comprising profiles and essays, showcases the diversity of philanthropic impulses, a leitmotif that has fuelled the dynamism of the sector throughout history. This dynamism continues today as it follows – and shapes - the contours of Europe’s evolving social, political and economic fabric.

Throughout history, foundations have played a pivotal role in developing and strengthening European societies. By using a storytelling lens, this book explores how philanthropy has found its place in modern societies in different ways. It also introduces the reader to several thinkers in the field who offer valuable insights into the past, present and future of the sector. The authors take stock of the accomplishments of foundations, and also outline some of the challenges facing the sector - from without and from within. For example, the book makes a strong case for facilitating the sector’s ability to participate effectively within the Single Market by implementing a European foundation statute. The authors also argue for foundations to become more European and more global, while working in closer partnership.

Philanthropy in Europe was launched at the Council on Foundations meeting in Washington DC on 5 May. The European launch will take place at the European Foundation Centre’s (EFC) conference in Istanbul on 29 - 31 May. The book was funded by the Mercator Fund and the King Baudouin Foundation and published by Alliance Publishing Trust (APT).

Download the book by chapter (PDF)

Featured Profiles
- Stefan Batory Foundation, Poland
- Robert Bosch Stiftung, Germany
- Compagnia di San Paolo, Italy
- European Cultural Foundation, Netherlands
- Fondation de France
- Institusjonen Fritt Ord, Norway
- Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Portugal
- Impetus Trust, UK
- Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Greece
- Sabancı Foundation, Turkey
- Stephan Schmidheiny
- Van Leer Group Foundation, Netherlands
- Wellcome Trust, UK

Essays
- The diverse roles played by European foundations
- The rich history of philanthropy in Turkey: a paradox of tradition and modernity
- Encouraging change: European foundations funding research
- European foundations’ support for civil society: a means to an end or an end in itself?
- Foundations and policy influence in Europe Engaged philanthropy and market-based solutions
- The importance of there being a European foundation statute

Contributors
- Filiz Bikmen
- Anna Cantaluppi
- Caroline Hartnell
- Diana Leat
- Wilhelm Krull
- Maximilian Martin
- Dianna Rienstra
- Gerry Salole
- Hildy Simmons
- António José Teixeira
- Gottfried Wagner
- David Watkiss

Foundations examines the evolving dynamics driving philanthropy as Western society struggles to meet today’s many challenges, taking a hard look at the sensitive issues of democratic legitimacy, accountability and credibility in the context of civil society, as well as the changing policy environment in which foundations operate.

Author Luc Tayart de Borms argues that effective philanthropy is “impact driven” and depends on a strategic mix of methodologies that reach beyond grant-giving. The arguments challenge the status quo and deliver a wake up call to philanthropists on both sides of the Atlantic.

The book intends to spark an ongoing debate as the sector strives to strengthen its relevance and make a real difference in a world that is becoming more complex than ever before.




0-470-01505-5 | March 2005 | 216 pages | Hardback | £31.50
Available at www.amazon.co.uk

Download the complete book (PDF)
Download the book by chapter (PDF)