Established in 2002, the European Foundation Financial and Investment Officers Group (EFFIO) is membership-based network of financial and investment officers of large independent European foundations which aims to advance the knowledge on the investment environment and practice of foundations across Europe and further the professionalism of its members.
The idea of creating a platform for European Foundation Financial Officers to address specific European investment issues was tabled by members of the European Foundation Centre (EFC), some of which are members in a platform of investment officers in the US (FFOG). The Van Leer Group Foundation led the process towards the establishment of EFFIO in 2002.
- Foster peer-to-peer learning and information exchange on trends and best practice in investments
- Identify and study of specific issues affecting foundation investments
- Facilitate networking, communication and cooperation on investment issues among foundations
- Develop a knowledge base on foundation investments
- Interact with other networks and organisations
- Semi-annual meetings with participation of at least on investment expert per meeting
- Annual members' survey on investment policies and practice
- Issue-specific surveys on key aspects of foundation investments (e.g. investment governance; spending policy;...)
- Building an information base on foundation investments
- Development of relations with the Foundation Foundation Financial Officers Group in the US
- Development of a website and maintenance of a e-mail list
EFFIO’s work is guided by a Steering Committee chaired by Bertil From, Lundbeckfonden and comprising Alasdair Mackintosh, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Rik Imhof, Stichting Instituut Gak, and Daniel Truell, Wellcome Trust. The Annual Survey of Members is designed by a Working Group comprising Phil Brown, Kings Fund, and Rik Imhof, Stichting Instituut Gak.