Saturday 28 May

During the Closing Plenary of the conference, Francis Charhon, President of Fondation de France, was awarded the EFC Philanthropy Compass Prize, which honours individuals who have had a major impact on the course of European philanthropy. Luc Tayart de Borms of the King Baudouin Foundation emphasised Mr Charhon’s critical contribution to the EFC, notably his efforts around the European Foundation Statute. The Closing Plenary also saw the handover of the EFC Chairmanship from Emílio Rui Vilar of Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian to Marco Parlangeli of Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena, who will chair the Centre over the coming years and a keynote speech by Kathleen Cravero - Kristoffersson, Oak Foundation.

Other highlights of the final day included:

• Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di San Miniato winning the 2011 EFC Photo Competition with their entry ‘Companions’
• The Interactive Showcase of Portuguese foundations
• The Global Philanthropy Leadership Initiative (GPLI) Task Force meeting on 'advancing philanthropy in a global context'
• A preview of the 2012 AGA and Conference 'Peace for Social Justice- A role for foundations?' due to take place in Belfast from 6-8 June

Friday 27 May

Delegates gathered for a plenary session on "Ocean Governance in Europe - A new frontier: Challenges and opportunities for European foundations". Keynote speaker HRH Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands stressed that, "Sustainability has to become somehow part of our DNA." HRH Princess Laurentien emphasised the importance of listening to young people in finding solutions: "Younger generations think in terms of possibilities, not obstacles." She offered five areas in which foundations could contribute:

1. Creating a more strategic, integrated vision of all that they do.
2. Promoting more collaboration, leading to cost effectiveness and bigger impact.
3. Defining clearly what they as foundations are trying to change.
4. Walking the talk by being more responsible and transparent. A prime example is making responsible investment a core value.
5. Remaining ambitious and optimistic.

Other highlights of the 2nd day included:

• An early morning session on the role of philanthropy in development: lessons from Bihar
• A smorgasbord of relevant topics at the 'legal and fiscal buffet'
• A meeting discussing diversity in Europe asking whether there is a crisis of tolerance

Thursday 26 May

The opening day of the 22nd EFC AGA and Conference welcomed over 600 delegates to address 'Resources and Sustainability – The Oceans'.

President of Portugal Aníbal Cavaco Silva stressed the need for combining the efforts of government, the scientific community and NGOs to provide better knowledge of the oceans and find ways to minimise risks to them. “European foundations have a crucial role to play in finding solutions to offer a more hopeful future for humankind,” he said.

Emílio Rui Vilar, President of Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian and Chair of the EFC, said in his address that one of the main priorities of his chairmanship had been to emphasise the responsibility of European foundations to look beyond the borders of Europe. "There is a growing sense that so many of the issues that European philanthropy addresses have global implications and causes," he said. "To tackle these issues, we must look out beyond our borders – for ideas, for partners, for knowledge and for solutions."

Other highlights included:

• The Mercator Fund’s Raymond Georis Prize for Innovative Philanthropy in Europe was awarded to Bassma Kodmani, Executive Director of the Arab Reform Initiative, which promotes democratic reform in the Arab world. In her acceptance speech, Ms Kodmani said of the change that is underway now in the Arab world, "There is a long way to go, but… the task is exhilarating".
• The Interactive showcase provided a vibrant atmosphere for a morning of presentations, debates and new ideas
• The Environmental Funders Group hosted a lively discussion on the role of science in reaching political goals and changing public attitudes in addressing environmental challenges
• Members of the European Foundation Communications Exchange (EFComEX) held their inaugural meeting to discuss why 'in the sea of communications, you have to make shore…'

Wednesday 25 May

Wednesday saw a wide variety of satellite and pre-conference events which took place in the run up to the opening of the EFC's 22nd Annual General Assembly and Conference.

Highlights included:

• A practical workshop of NEF partners which searched for synergies and strategic alliances to build the future of the European Project
• The 8th meeting of the Foundations from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) which focused on "Development and Sustainability"
• A meeting of the EUSTORY Alliance, a European civil society initiative fostering education and active democratic citizenship and shared ownership of Europe among young Europeans
• The summer meeting of the Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe (DAFNE)
• The African Grantmakers' Network (AGN) meeting which put the spotlight on African philanthropy
• The Impact Island workshop on impact analysis which reflected upon how foundations view evaluation
• The opportunities and challenges for European foundations and their grantees regarding Cloud computing
• A seminar looking at the role of foundations in addressing industrial sites and urban renewal
• A session debating what foundations can do in terms of fostering volunteering in Europe