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

Assessing Research for Philanthropic Funding : Innovative Approaches

September 1, 2023

This publication on responsible research assessment aims to explore diverse approaches taken by foundations to enhance the fairness, transparency and effectiveness of evaluating research proposals for funding. The publication delves into three distinct methodologies that challenge traditional assessment methods and offer innovative alternatives: 1. Using artificial intelligence (AI); 2. Adopting narrative curriculum vitae (CVs); and 3. Implementing randomised selection. It provides an overview of general principles of responsible research assessment, key framing documents and recommendations for implementing these principles; and offers examples of the real-world application of these methods by various foundations and organisations.While these approaches demonstrate the innovative potential within research assessment, they are by no means an exhaustive representation of all available tools and methods. Nevertheless, they serve as compelling illustrations of the ongoing efforts to revolutionise evaluation practices and foster a more inclusive and equitable research ecosystem.

Ethical issues and Good Practices; Evaluation and Learning; Grantmaking and Programme Management; Science and Technology; Technology and Foundations
Featured

Organisational Development Support : A Rough Guide - Top Eight Learnings

June 30, 2023

Many funders are starting to recognise the value of Organisational Development (OD) support and are looking to peer organisations on how to create OD programmes. In doing this, many grantmaking foundations want to reflect on the experience of other organisations on how they began OD programmes, before starting their own. Simultaneously, funders that already provide OD support are looking at how they can enhance their programmes by wanting to learn from the experiences of others. The Organisational Development (OD) Community of Practice organised its second-ever satellite event before the start of the Philea Forum 2023 in Šibenik, Croatia. This document serves as a knowledge product generated during the session, presenting the top eight learnings shared by participants at the satellite event. Its primary objective is to assist funders in gaining an understanding of key steps involved in developing OD support programmes. 

Ethical issues and Good Practices; Grantmaking and Programme Management
Featured

Arts and Culture at the Core of Philanthropy : Volume 2

May 23, 2023

As multiple crises have unfolded in recent years, the arts and culture sector has been among the most damaged financially, and its structural fragilities have significantly deteriorated. At the same time, its value to society throughout these crises has been undoubtedly clear.This second volume of Philea's research into European philanthropic funding in the field of arts and culture reveals a philanthropic sector that is strongly committed to resourcing artistic and cultural organisations to strengthen their resilience; has a cross-cutting and intersectional tendency in its work; and is clearly open to collaborative and participatory approaches.This edition of the mapping surveyed 64 foundations from 17 different countries, and includes contributions from several experts in the field. 

Arts and Culture; Foundation Sector, History and Analysis
Featured

Environmental Funding by European Foundations : Volume 6

May 22, 2023

The 6th edition of this research into environmental funding by European foundations is the most comprehensive report to date on environmental philanthropy in Europe. The report is based on 2021 grants data from 126 of the largest environmental foundations in Europe. The mapping analyses the 8,518 environmental grants made in 2021 by these foundations, worth a combined €1.6 billion.This is more than double the value of the grants analysed in the previous edition of this research. The report covers topics ranging from thematic focus of environmental grantmaking, to geographical distribution, to approaches to change and environmental discourses taken by funders, among others. It concludes with issues for foundations to consider as the world reckons with the current environmental and climate crisis. 

Environment and Sustainable Development; Foundation Sector, History and Analysis
Featured

How Foundations Listen : A Qualitative Review by Luisa Bonin

March 23, 2023

This report is the result of a partnership between Philea and Luisa Bonin, a visiting fellow from Brazil at the Maecenata Foundation in Berlin. Luisa`s project on strategic philanthropy was selected for the 2021/2022 cohort of the "German Chancellor Fellowship for Prospective Leaders," a programme of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. The goal of this report is to take a deep and qualitative look into the listening practices of European foundations. Talking about listening can sound subjective, but this report shows how this process can be viewed objectively and how these learnings can be used to start improving listening practices within foundations. An executive summary, as well as further reading and resources, are included.

Ethical issues and Good Practices; Grantmaking and Programme Management
Featured

Supporting Civic Engagement in Times of War in Ukraine : Practical Insights

March 1, 2023

Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, foundations continue to support various actions in the civic space of the country. Grantmaking foundations are continuously looking for on-the-ground information, which can be difficult to garner in times of war, to help inform their grantmaking decisions.What data do funders rely on to support their interventions? Which areas require the highest amount of support? Where does Ukrainian civil society require the most assistance?This "practical insights" paper aims to shed light on these areas by highlighting various studies that have looked into these questions. The insights outlined aim to answer a set of questions, with the overarching aim of demonstrating to funders the intrinsic value of utilising research and data to help form interventions in Ukraine during this extremely challenging period for the country, but also for the international community. The paper is based on presentations and studies that were presented at the ninth "Philanthropy for Ukraine" online event organised on 21 October 2022 by Philea.

Humanitarian and Disaster Relief; Knowledge and Data Management; Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector, Civil Society; Peace and Conflict
Featured

The Philanthropy Environment in Europe: December 2022

December 1, 2022

This joint Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and Philea briefing provides information on the philanthropic landscape in Europe, putting the findings of the 2022 Global Philanthropy Environment Index (published in March 2022 by IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy) in context with Philea's 2022 publication, "Comparative Highlights of Foundation Laws".

Foundation Sector, History and Analysis; Legislation and Taxation
Featured

Data Dive into the Cost-of-Living

November 1, 2022

Just as Europe is moving from emergency mode to recovery from the devastating effects of Covid-19, the continent is now preparing for a new era of discontent brought on by a growing cost-of-living crisis. Inflationary pressure is becoming more persistent and broad-based. Funders are now turning their attention to how to collectively mitigate the impact being felt by communities as well as their employees and grantee partners.Philea provides this data dive into available research and statistics alongside insights from philanthropic actors to inform its members about the scale and disparities of the problem as well as practical steps being taken by funders and their long-term considerations. 

Foundation Sector, History and Analysis; Socio-economic Development, Poverty
Featured

Child and Youth Participation in Philanthropy : Stories of Transformation

May 30, 2022

This study represents another milestone on the journey of supporting philanthropic practice in becoming more inclusive and closer to those it serves. It is based on: a survey of and interviews with 40 European philanthropic organisations; focus group interviews with children and young people involved with these organisations; and 11 case studies of participating organisations. The study provides recommendations and clear examples of initiatives by foundations along this journey, which can be used to spark discussion on the various modes and phases of participatory philanthropy, whatever the target group or thematic area.

Children and Youth; Ethical issues and Good Practices; Foundation Sector, History and Analysis; Grantmaking and Programme Management
Featured

Climate philanthropy networks : Shaping and supporting the philanthropy ecosystem in the field of climate

May 2, 2022

This mapping shows the growing diversity and number of networks that have embraced the mission to support and grow the development of the philanthropy ecosystem in the field of climate. The twenty-one organisations presented range from those that are solely dedicated to climate issues to more general networks that work in a range of areas. Each profile gives a flavor of the organisation or platform's activities and goals. This mapping exercise is part of the activities of the Philanthropy Coalition for Climate (https://philea.eu/how-we-can-help/initiatives/philanthropy-coalition-for-climate/), a group of foundations, philanthropy infrastructure organisations and other partners gathered around the aim to empower philanthropy to drive bold climate action and transformational change in Europe and beyond.

Collaborative Philanthropy and Partnerships; Environment and Sustainable Development; Foundation Sector, History and Analysis
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

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