We are excited to be co-sponsoring a session at the European Foundation Centre Conference in Copenhagen. Our session 'From Good to Great Philanthropy' will be held on Thursday, 30 May, 2013 between at 3:30 PM.

Many foundations would probably claim that the work they are doing is good – but how many would say it’s great? In order to make this leap, are there certain ingredients which must be present in order to position a foundation in a way that allows for greatness to be possible? Through drama, group work, and lively discussions this workshop will delve into this question and more by considering other sectors and drawing from the results of an EFC member survey exploring European foundations’ attitudes and practices. The session will also bridge two previous EFC AGA and Conference sessions, namely: “Impact Island” which considered impact assessment (Cascais, 2011), and “Risky Business” which looked at risk in programming (Belfast, 2012). For, after all, no one talks about the Good Wall of China.

We hope to see you in Copenhagen!

Voting is now open for the winner of the Olga Alexeeva Memorial Prize.

The shortlist for the Olga Alexeeva Memorial Prize was announced at the beginning of March.

Profiles of the shortlisted finalists are featured in a special supplement to accompany the March 2013 edition of Alliance magazine, which focuses on philanthropy in emerging market countries.

Members of the public are invited to vote for their preferred candidate through an online vote. The outcome of this vote will be one factor in the judges’ decision, which will be announced in the middle of April 2013.

The nominees for the prize in 2013 are:

Luis Gallo of Banca de Inversión Social, Colombia
Anna Garchakova of the Belarusian Children’s Hospice

Click here to see the latest PSJP newsletter.

It contains:

FEATURE
• Stories from PSJP - Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT)

BLOG POSTS from http://p-sj.org and others
• Art and Social Justice by Tanul Tiwari
• Funding the Fight to End Violence Against Women in South Asia by Chandrika Sahai
• Red Umbrella Fund Welcomes Its First Grantees by Nadia van der Linde, Red Umbrella Fund Coordinator
• Reframing African Philanthropy by Halima Mahomed, Trust Africa
• A Strategy to Advance Social Change Philanthropy: Strengthening the Capacity of Local Women's Funds in Wealthy Economies by Linda To, HER Fund, Hong Kong

NEWS
• Discounted Subscription of Alliance Magazine for PSJP Practitioners
• Nominate Grantmakers Who Embody Philanthropy At Its Best
• "Nothing For Us Without Us" - Sex Workers the Decision-makers in New Fund

UPCOMING EVENTS
• Webinar- Engaging Young People in Philanthropy: Lessons from Brazil and Slovakia, Jan 23, 2013

At last year's 12th annual Just Giving Conference over 250 globally minded local and international foundations, donors and allies committed to social change gathered to help launch the new EDGE Funders Alliance. A short video produced during the conference captured well the spirit, commitment and vision of the community of "engaged donors" being created within this new alliance.

Just Giving 2013 will continue providing a unique space to deepen our understanding of the current landscape of grassroots and transnational initiatives addressing structural injustice in key areas, and ways in which global social change philanthropy can - and should - make a difference. Plenaries and workshop sessions will highlight strategies making significant change happen, and Engagement Labs, caucuses and working groups will prioritize ways of increasing grantmaker involvement and collaboration, and expand opportunities for networking, sharing and building relationships among grantmakers around the world.

Engaging young people in philanthropy: lessons from Brazil and Slovakia

Join the Global Fund for Community Foundations (GFCF) to hear about how two community foundations – one in Brazil and the other in Slovakia – are working with young people in their communities. From Brazil, the Florianopolis-based community foundation ICom (Instituto Comunitaria Florianoplis) will tells us about a new initiative which engages young people from all walks of life to engage in their communities through social media and online platforms. The Nitra Community Foundation, based in Slovakia, will discuss their ‘Young Nitra Philanthropists’ programme, which puts young people in charge of their own grant programmes and encourages youth giving for various civic activities (such as small-scale environmental regeneration projects, cultural activities, etc.).

In the final weeks of 2012, Alliance is offering a Christmas discount of 50% off new subscriptions to the magazine.

The definitive resource for philanthropy and social investment professionals worldwide, Alliance magazine provides up-to-date news and in-depth analysis of the latest developments in this sector. As the only magazine of its kind with a global focus, if you are going to read any publication on philanthropy, Alliance is the one to choose.
In addition to four issues of the magazine per year, subscribing to Alliance offers regular updates on developments in the sector in the form of the Alliance Bulletin and unlimited access to the Alliance website, plus additional articles and interviews published exclusively online.

To take advantage of this offer for new subscriptions, simply complete the discount form and return to alliance@alliancemagazine.org by 31 December 2012.

The Olga Alexeeva Memorial Prize of £5,000 will be awarded to an individual who has demonstrated remarkable leadership, creativity and results in developing philanthropy for progressive social change in an emerging market country or countries. The prize will be for the individual winner to use at their discretion.

Nominations for the prize will be put forward by one main nominator and seconded by another person. The closing date for applications is 1 December 2012.

A shortlist of up to eight finalists will be developed by the following on behalf of the Olga Alexeeva Memorial Fund: Maria Chertok, Director, CAF Russia and former PBF trustee; Caroline Hartnell, Editor, Alliance magazine and former PBF Chair; Jenny Hodgson, Executive Director, Global Fund for Community Foundations and former PBF adviser.

The six judges who will select the final winner of the Olga Alexeeva Memorial Prize are:

Akwasi Aidoo, TrustAfrica, Senegal
Ana Valéria Araújo, Brazil Human Rights Fund, Brazil
Shenyu Belsky, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, China
Christopher Harris, independent consultant and former Philanthropy Bridge Foundation trustee, USA
Kavita Ramdas, Ford Foundation India

Social Justice Philanthropy: Implications for Practice and Policy

One-day conference, Friday 1 March 2013

NCVO, 8 All Saints Street, London, N1 9RL

What is social justice philanthropy?

What are the experiences of progressive grant-givers and recipients?

This one-day conference will bring together academics, policy-makers and practitioners, in order to gain a greater understanding about how philanthropy operates in practice and the moral judgments that underpin charitable giving.

It will explore both the theoretical and the day-to-day context in which decisions about philanthropic giving are made. What are the traditions, customs and rules that influence grant-givers? It will also analyse the concept of social justice philanthropy and ask whether it offers a significantly new model of philanthropy.

Proposals for 20 minute papers are sought from academics, policy-makers and practitioners. We are particularly keen to include reflections from grant-givers on their day-to-day experiences.

Ariadne Netherlands is organising a half day funders and grant-makers seminar on Strategic Funding for Children – Embracing Good Principles, Avoiding Bad Practice, on Thursday 4th October in The Hague. The event will explore ways of approaching this field intelligently and strategically, with the aim of equipping donors with enhanced skills and greater knowledge, and helping them to avoid some of the worst pitfalls.

Speakers will include Carolyn Hamilton, Director of Research and International Programmes at the Coram Children’s Legal Centre, and Lisa Jordan, Executive Director of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, who will share her personal experiences. The languages of the event will be English (with some Dutch) and all Ariadne members are welcome. Location: Cordaid, Lutherse Burgwal 10, Den Haag 2512 CB, The Netherlands. The agenda is now available in English and in Dutch. To register, please follow this link.
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On September 24,2012 the WINGS webinar series addresses the topic of risk, drawing from the experiences of industry professionals. One of the most celebrated aspects of philanthropy is the ability to take risks. The sector has resources to test innovative solutions other actors don't have, like opportunities to bring said innovations to scale with the help of governments.. But philanthropy is instead becoming more risk-averse. Do foundations take the necessary risks?

Presenters:Barry Knight (CENTRIS), Ambika Satkunanathan (Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust) and Tao Ze (China Foundation Center).

When:Monday, September 24th

8AM Sao Paulo / 11AM UTC / 12PM London / 1PM Johannesburg / 4:30PM Colombo-Mumbai / 7PM Beijing

Register here.