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Financial Crisis Outlook

MapShot: EFC Members
Foundations and International Development, Wilton Park Conference
Conference to address foundations, global development and the "Big Society."

 News
Manifesto for a New Approach to Investing
Ex-financier Paul Woolley calls for a new approach to investing in a 10-point Manifesto.
New research examines rules for a Social Stock Exchange
New research, funded by Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, aims to support the development of a Financial Services Authority-regulated global social stock exchange to allow investors to trade exclusively in companies with social and environmental goals.
Drop in donations hurts US foundations
An article in the Financial Times has reported that donations to charities and community foundations fell in 2009, as the financial crisis continues to take its toll.

 

MapShot: Poverty Reduction

 Philanthropy Forecast

Some Some EFC members have publicly announced or communicated to us how they are responding to the economic crisis. Here we've compiled an overview of these announcements and related news from members own website and other sources.

View the forecast chart»

 From the Trenches

 Practical advice on dealing with a crisis was at the centre of discussions at EFC's Annual General Assembly and Conference, hosted in Rome from 14 to 16 May 2009. Participants addressed many aspects of a foundation's operations in times of crisis, ranging from endowment and investment strategies to responding to societal challenges.

Read their suggestions»

Foundations in a time of crisis

By Luc Tayart de Borms, Managing Director of the King Baudouin Foundation
These are stressful, challenging times for everyone - not least for foundation managers, boards and donors. Banks, businesses and even governments fail; equity markets and portfolios plummet, and long, painful recessions in Europe, the US and elsewhere are forecast. Some foundations have had to close their doors. As a foundation manager reflecting on the current financial crisis, a few thoughts occur to me as we try to make our way forward - hopefully to better times.

 

 

Transparency in times of crisis

By Carlos Paramés, Secretary General, Association of Spanish Foundations
It is essential that foundations take care when it comes to transparency and good governance.  We all know too well that the recent economic crisis has been especially severe for business and the financial system.  Transparency and good governance have been conspicuous by their absence in a context of liberalisation and deregulation.  What about us? Are we as foundations facing similar problems?

 

 

 

 Reports

 

 

 

2nd International CIRIEC Research Conference on Social Economy

by CIRIEC Aisbl, Université de Liège

The 2nd International Research Conference on the Social Economy straddled 1 and 2 October 2009 in Östersund (Sweden) on the theme "The Social Economy in a World in Crisis". This event brought together more than 200 interested parties from more than 40 different countries, thereby guaranteeing the cultural diversity so dear to CIRIEC. During those two days not only researchers - but also practitioners - attended the 27 workshops on offer; these yielded 160 presentations.

Read report»

 

European Foundations in Times of Crisis

Highlights from the Symposium on ‘Responsible Leadership in Times of Change’ hosted by Banque de Luxembourg on 9 October 2009

In April 2008, Banque de Luxembourg convened a symposium entitled ‘Seizing the Initiative for Philanthropy in Luxembourg’, with the aim of systematically fostering the development of philanthropy in the country. Since starting to offer philanthropy advice to its clients around six months earlier, explains Philippe Depoorter, the Bank’s head of Philanthropy Practice, the Bank had become increasingly aware both of the opportunities to develop philanthropy in Luxembourg and of the need to improve the environment for it. 

Read report»

 

Third Sector still innovating despite hard times

By Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), UK 

Despite the recession, charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations (the third sector) in the UK are still innovating, according to a publication out today from the ESRC. With the UK in recession the third sector is facing increasingly tough economic times. Charities and voluntary organisations are seeing their income drop and demand rise, whilst competition between organisations to deliver high quality public services is growing. In such an environment, continuing to innovate is becoming more of a challenge.

Read report»