From 2018 until 2022, the Verbier Festival Foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation have established a strong collaboration by joining forces to jointly develop annual meetings around philanthropy as part of the Verbier Classical Music Festival: the Verbier Festival Philanthropy Forum.
Each year, the Forum’s public debate encouraged discussion and exchange on current issues and challenges in philanthropy. The magnificent setting of Verbier, together with the Festival’s global standing and exceptional concerts, provided an ideal environment to reflect on generosity and the commitment that it requires.
In, 2021 this debate explored ways in which the power of philanthropy can be harnessed for the planet. For the 2022 edition, the discussion centered on ‘How can philanthropy be more impactful in an age of disruption?’. The event took place on Saturday July 23, from 3 to 4:30 pm at the Verbier Cinema.
Public Debate
What is philanthropy’s role in a society where incredible challenges—the pandemic, climate change, a war at Europe’s doorstep, to name just a few—force us to question the fundamentals of our living together? Disruptive effects on vital ecosystems—nature, social, health, economy—are poised to be inevitable and irreversible. Despite the collective awareness of the urgency to act, concrete action and real change is slow to be implemented, notwithstanding a number of remarkable initiatives here and there. The 2022 Verbier Philanthropy Forum brung into focus this important topic and explored ways to make philanthropy more impactful in a world of disruption.
Speakers
This year’s Forum featured four speakers whose unique profiles and commitments led to a lively and deep discussion: Maria Cattaui, Global Board Member of the Open Society Foundations; Yves Daccord, former Director of the ICRC and President of the Edgelands Institute; Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust; and Beatrice Fihn, Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). The panel was moderated by Etienne Eichenberger, Chairman of Swiss Philanthropy Foundation.
For the first time, the Forum was streamed live (access upon resgistration), allowing audiences from around the world to be inspired and define ideas for action together.
2022 Edition Teaser
To learn more about the previous editions :
To know more, please consult the Verbier Festival website
Contact us if you are interested in the next edition at contact@swissphilanthropy.ch
In our changing world, philanthropy has experienced many developments in recent years. While some are short-lived, others change the practice of philanthropy.Thus, Swiss Philanthropy Foundation supports venture philanthropy initiatives, a real “laboratory” on how to practice philanthropy differently, particularly around the collaboration between philanthropists and the development of financial and economic tools for the benefit of the charitable sector.
Venture Philanthropy is a new form of philanthropy that adapts the principles of private equity (the selection and development of companies with high growth potential among others) to the needs of the charitable sector.
This concept is developed today in part by the European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA), created in 2004. This network brings together a community of organisations that share the same vision and pursue the same mission: create a social and societal impact through venture philanthropy, in an entrepreneurial and committed approach to giving.
The purpose of Swiss Philanthropy Foundation’s “Promoting Philanthropy” thematic fund is to encourage different ways of engaging in philanthropy. In this respect, the Foundation held conferences in Europe, in collaboration with the European Venture Philanthropy Association and the King Baudouin Foundation in Belgium.
2013 in Geneva, Switzerland
The 9th annual EVPA conference was organised in Geneva in 2013, initiated by WISE – philanthropy advisors alongside seven other foundations. This is the largest meeting of venture philanthropy held in Geneva, whose purpose was to put the entrepreneur and the philanthropist at the heart of the discussions.
27 April to 12 May 2017 in Bruxelles, Belgium
The Spring of Philanthropy is an initiative of the King Baudouin Foundation in Belgium supported by Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, whose aim is to promote philanthropy in our society. Major themes of philanthropy were discussed to highlight innovative ideas and new practices that can inspire philanthropists to engage and address societal issues at the local, national, European or international scale.
24 April 2017 in Zurich, Switzerland
Swiss Philanthropy Foundation participated in the event “Investing for Impact“, organised on 24 April 2017 by the EVPA and the Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth of the University of Zurich. This workshop enabled 15 innovative impact investment funds from eight different countries to meet with Next Gen,present their solutions and share their successes, opportunities and challenges. Swiss Philanthropy Foundation was represented by Sabrina Grassi, Director of Operations, in the panel “Managing Impact: Approaches, Challenges & Lessons Learnt”. The high-impact “Education & Employment” thematic fund of the Foundation was presented.
Since 2016, Swiss Philanthropy Foundation accompanies and supports the new generation of philanthropists (“NewGen”) with the organisation of annual meetings of the “NewGen Council”.
These interactive workshops bring together young philanthropists aged 25 to 35, who collectively address issues related to their philanthropic project, governance, but also their contribution and personal approach to family philanthropy.
At the end of the first edition, organised around four first meetings (Geneva, London, New York), 90% of the participants affirm “to be better equipped in their philanthropy” and 25% to have actually developed their philanthropic project.
This project was initiated by Swiss Philanthropy Foundation as part of its thematic fund “Promoting Philanthropy” with WISE – philanthropy advisors, in collaboration with FBN International, Polaris and 21/64.
The first edition of the NewGen Council took place from 2016 to 2017 in Geneva, London and New York.
The place and date of the next edition will be communicated as soon as it is planned.