Strategic Philanthropy: Doing Good Done Better

This Conference is dedicated to the Opening of the Erasmus Centre for Strategic Philanthropy (ECSP), intended to enhance the quality, effectiveness, transparency and impact of the philanthropic sector by means of scientific research and education. ECSP aims to develop into a centre for advice and cooperation within the philanthropic community. ECSP is a collaboration between Erasmus School of Economics (ESE), Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) and the Adessium Foundation. Under discussion at the conference on Strategic Philanthropy will be the goals and activities of ECSP alongside a review of the main strategic issues dealt with by the philanthropic community.

Amongst others, the following questions will be addressed:

• What is Strategic Philanthropy?
• How should a philanthropic organisation be managed?
• How should the long- and short-term strategy for the organisation be determined?
• How should funded projects be selected and span evaluated?
• How should the demand for transparency and accountability be dealt with?
• How does the European philanthropic sector differ from the American sector?

The first guest speaker is David Carrington (UK). He has over 25 years of experience in the European philanthropic sector and is well positioned to discuss the main challenges currently facing the philanthropic community. Other guest speakers will talk about their own experiences of strategic decisions within their philanthropic organisations. Hans Stam, managing director of the Netherlands Heart Foundation,

will explain why they have recently completed a study on the impact of the foundation on society. Heleen Terwijn of IMC Weekend School will touch upon the strategic choices she has had to make in the initial phase of the foundation, in addition to considering the long term vision of the schools after 10 years of existence. The full programme will be available in August.