The Philea Virtual Library

The Philea Virtual Library includes over 1,000 free-to-download publications from a range of organisations and publishers on the topics of philanthropy, the management of foundations and the areas they are involved in and support. As a Philea member you can send us your publications for inclusion in the library which will also be added to the global IssueLab network where they will be made available to an extended audience, including users of Worldcat, the global catalogue used by tens of thousands of libraries. For questions or assistance, please contact the Philea Virtual Library.
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Featured

Philanthropy Back to the Drawing Board : Shaping a Future Agenda

October 9, 2023

In this book, Rien van Gendt urges philanthropy to critically and reflectively assess how it can best live up to the promise it makes – and the responsibility it has – of investing private resources for the public good.With a focus on private foundations and public charities, the book covers areas such as the legitimacy of philanthropy; the advantages and pitfalls of collaboration; aligning investments with mission; making the most effective use of philanthropic spending; operating systems and styles; and relationships with grantees and local communities, among several other topics. These are set out in the context of today's multiple challenges, including the war in Ukraine, the climate crisis, growing inequality and the rise in anti-democratic sentiment. Considering the rapidly evolving nature of these crises, and the uncertainty they bring, lessons of the past no longer provide answers – hence the need for philanthropy to go back to the drawing board.

Grantmaking and Programme Management; International Affairs, Global Challenges; Philanthropy, Theory, Philosophy and History
Featured

Future-proofing foundations for a post-Covid-19 world

April 1, 2022

This paper sheds a light on developments and changing practices in institutional philanthropy in Europe since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and offers insights for making responsible philanthropy the new normal. Leveraging data from a document review as well as various surveys and interviews conducted with the membership of the former European Foundation Centre (now Philea, a convergence of Dafne - Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe - and the EFC), the present analysis delves into what foundations have learned from this period. Organisations may survive in their current state, but they will lose legitimacy and perceived value if they do not adapt. The paper first looks at the challenges perceived by philanthropy professionals and how they respond to these threats, including criticism of philanthropy, and then takes stock of actions that have helped foundations to bounce back from massive disruption. Finally, the paper offers a set of recommendations to reveal opportunities for change and prepare for what's next. 

Ethical issues and Good Practices; Foundation Sector, History and Analysis; Grantmaking and Programme Management; International Affairs, Global Challenges
Featured

Insights on how the work of EFC members changed in 2020 : March 2021

September 1, 2021

At the beginning of 2021, following a challenging year of transformation seen across the globe, the EFC surveyed the steering committee members of its Thematic Networks to get an understanding of how their work and organisations changed in 2020.In this follow up to the 2020 publication "EFC Members' Responses to the Covid-19 Pandemic : Results from EFC Survey March-June 2020", the EFC regroups their answers and reflections in a compilation of interesting initiatives.

Foundation Sector, History and Analysis; Grantmaking and Programme Management; International Affairs, Global Challenges
Featured

EFC Members' Responses to the Covid-19 Pandemic : Results from EFC Survey March-June 2020

June 1, 2020

The European Foundation Centre surveyed its members, affiliates and partners from March to early June 2020 to find out what immediate measures they were taking (or were planning to take), internally and in their programmatic and funding activities, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.The survey aimed to gain an initial overview of how EFC members and affiliates were reacting to the crisis in order to identify possible points of collaboration and synergy, and to share useful information among them.

Foundation Sector, History and Analysis; International Affairs, Global Challenges
Featured

European Philanthropy at the Nexus of Disability and the SDGs

December 1, 2019

This publication, jointly elaborated by Fundación ONCE and the European Foundation Centre, focused on how the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals are serving as a framework for foundations to develop their action on disability inclusion. The publication includes key reflections on this topic as well as examples and testimonies of eleven relevant foundations from nine countries -France, UK, Italy, Spain, Austria, Ireland, Netherlands, Turkey and Georgia. The publication has been developed in the framework of Disability Hub Europe, an initiative led by Fundación ONCE with the co-funding of the European Social Fund.

Disability; International Affairs, Global Challenges

Advancing Human Rights : Annual Review of Global Foundation Grantmaking, 2019 Key Findings

November 1, 2022

Every year, Candid and Human Rights Funders Network's (HRFN's) Advancing Human Rights research reveals insights from the latest, most comprehensive data available for global human rights philanthropy. The goal of this study is to provide long-term evidence to understand gaps, changes, and new possibilities in resourcing human rights. In this year's analysis, the authors track the $4.1 billion that foundations granted in 2019 in support of human rights. This represents a 10% increase from the previous year and points to several hopeful and surprising trends.

Foundation Sector, History and Analysis; Human Rights, Citizenship, Democracy; International Affairs, Global Challenges

The Ukraine crisis and diverted aid: What we know so far

September 20, 2022

As the attention of aid-giving countries has largely been absorbed by the events unfolding in Europe, there have been concerns that other crises are not getting the attention or funding they need. Obtaining an accurate picture is difficult, in part because many aid providers have stopped publishing real-time information on official development assistance (ODA) to Ukraine. This is unfortunate. While there are legitimate concerns about confidentiality, in times of crises it is even more important to have an accurate picture of what flows are available. In addition, while countries have pledged large amounts of support to Ukraine, few have been explicit about whether this will be additional or come at the expense of other causes.This factsheet explores what we can so far say about the impact that the Ukraine crisis is having on ODA to other priorities by piecing together what we know from near-real-time aid data for all other countries, donor announcements and funding for humanitarian appeals.

Humanitarian and Disaster Relief; International Affairs, Global Challenges

Designing Ukraine’s Recovery in the Spirit of the Marshall Plan: Principles, Architecture, Financing, Accountability - Recommendations for Donor Countries

September 7, 2022

US Secretary of State George C. Marshall, speaking at Harvard University 75 years ago, laid out a plan that combined aid to war-ravaged European countries with the strategic goal of building an alliance against Soviet expansionism.West German Chancellor Willy Brandt, speaking at Harvard University 50 years ago, presented the idea of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) as a gift to the American people, a sign of gratitude by the German people and a living memorial to the original Marshall Plan.Today, the idea of another Marshall Plan is in the air. For the first time since 1947, a project for an expansive recovery effort on the European continent is needed and realistic. Russian President Vladimir Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine, with daily widespread devastation in the name of his neo-imperial plan, cries out for a strong, creative response by the global community of democracies. The vision of a free and democratic, modernized and European Ukraine is the answer to Putin's challenge.For decades, the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) has supported the idea of a Europe whole, free, and at peace. It has supported the strengthening of civil society across Central and Eastern Europe. It has helped to generate and circulate ideas that honor the concept of enlightened self-interest and promote a collaborative, rules-based international order. At the core of GMF's work has always been the belief that the transatlantic community is stronger together.In July 2022, at an international conference in Lugano, Ukraine presented its National Recovery Plan. So far, its democratic partners have not responded in kind by agreeing on a plan to help the country rebuild after the war, leaving a void.This paper is an effort by GMF to help fill this void and to stimulate the debate about a meaningful Western plan for Ukraine's recovery. It is not a full blueprint for such an effort but a structured collection of recommendations for donor governments and international institutions. It limits itself to the challenges of designing and implementing such a plan and does not comment on Ukraine's National Recovery Plan. GMF hopes to follow this up with a broader, more comprehensive publication later in 2022 that will cover areas that this paper only touches upon, such as the role of civil society in the recovery process.

Humanitarian and Disaster Relief; International Affairs, Global Challenges; Peace and Conflict

Global Trends and Strategic Time Horizons in Philanthropy 2022

July 20, 2022

This study expands on previous research conducted by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors in 2019 and 2020 to understand the factors that affect a philanthropy's consideration in choosing the length of time for which it will remain active. With the advent of COVID-19, socio-economic uncertainty, and rising geopolitical tensions, the responses from 150 philanthropies from 30 countries to a global survey help illuminate how and why philanthropic organizations make important decisions, including those about philanthropic timeframes.This global research includes an exploration of various dimensions of strategic time horizons and examines strategies and operations, as well as perceived advantages and disadvantages of different philanthropic timeframes. The report also includes views on reasons for giving, causes, geographic flows of funding, decision-making and next-generation involvement.A recording of the launch webinar that highlighted key findings from the report is available to watch here: https://www.rockpa.org/global-trends-and-strategic-time-horizons-in-philanthropy-2022/

Corporate Philanthropy; Family Philanthropy; Foundation Sector, History and Analysis; Governance, Boards and Strategy; International Affairs, Global Challenges

Centering equity and justice in climate philanthropy

June 9, 2022

According to available funding data, most institutional funders do not incorporate climate or climate justice strategies into their work despite its urgency and potential, largely relegating it to a few environmental funders. As a result of underestimating its importance and its connection to other philanthropic priorities, not enough funding is flowing to climate change efforts and even less of it for reducing harm to communities most impacted by the climate crisis.This field guide for funders identifies common barriers to supporting climate justice strategies, describes ways to overcome them, and shares insights and case studies from experienced funders who have helped their institutions use a climate justice lens for greater impact within their existing grantmaking priorities.

Environment and Sustainable Development; Governance, Boards and Strategy; Grantmaking and Programme Management; International Affairs, Global Challenges

Philanthropy and COVID-19: Examining two years of giving

May 25, 2022

Candid and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) released a new report, Philanthropy and COVID-19: Examining giving in 2021, that details COVID-19-related philanthropic funding in 2021. Candid and CDP's third assessment of COVID-19 philanthropic data emphasizes that it will take decades for many communities to recover from the compounding effects of the pandemic. It highlights the role funders will play in long-term recovery from the pandemic, and CDP provides actionable steps funders can take to invigorate their COVID-19 giving strategy.

Foundation Sector, History and Analysis; Health; Humanitarian and Disaster Relief; International Affairs, Global Challenges

Beyond 2%: From climate philanthropy to climate justice philanthropy

April 21, 2022

Philanthropic foundations have long exerted influence in the international climate arena. Over 30 years on from their early forays into climate debates, this report asks how effective they have been. How relevant are their theories of change and worldviews today? And what can philanthropic foundations do to position themselves at the vanguard of meaningful change in the climate arena?In partnership with the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), the EDGE Funders Alliance launched this report on climate philanthropy that takes a fresh look at the state of play in the sector, and sets out the case for grounding climate philanthropy in climate justice and just transition principles.

Environment and Sustainable Development; International Affairs, Global Challenges

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