Philanthropic Leadership Platform: Russia-Europe

What is the Philanthropic Leadership Platform: Russia-Europe?

Philanthropic Leadership Platform: Russia – Europe is a two-year peer-exchange program implemented by the Center for Philanthropy Development of the Vladimir Potanin Foundation in partnership with the European Foundation Centre (EFC). The first edition of the exchange took place in November 2019 in Brussels. 20 participants from 10 countries focused on the questions of how philanthropic organizations can co-create, learn, adapt and scale lasting solutions to societal challenges. The second edition will bring together a new cohort of 20 philanthropy leaders to discuss main problems of the non-profit sector and challenges caused by the COVID-19.

When and where?

Normally, the program location alternates between Europe and Russia for each edition. For this 2nd edition, due to the COVID-19 situation, the program will be a mix of online and in-person activities:

• Stage 1: Online from the beginning of March till the end of May 2021
• Stage 2: Multi-day gathering of participants, June 2021

What broad themes will this year’s program focus on?

The disruption brought by the COVID-19 pandemic demands recovering, rethinking, and redesigning our systems. Therefore, the 2021 exchange will be built around four key themes in the context of the pandemic:

• Emerging practices in philanthropy and crisis leadership: You will get a chance to discuss the challenges brought on by the pandemic facing philanthropic leaders, how to deal with them and what kind of leadership we need, not only to get a handle on the crisis but to turn it into something good for our organizations and communities.
• Community regeneration and economic recovery: Philanthropic organizations have been supporting immediate relief efforts and building a longer-term “vision” for stronger communities and structural economic change. This part of the exchange lets you reimagine what a good society and people-centered economy should look like and specific roles philanthropy can play to make it happen.
• Digitalization: COVID-19 has accelerated the pace of the digital transformation that our societies have already been undergoing. While digitalization connects people and continents as never before, it also widens income disparities and skills gaps. You will explore promising strategies to bridge the digital divide, achieve digital transformation within your own foundations, and build the digital capacity of your non-profit partners.
• Future of education: With your peers, you will have an opportunity to explore how the philanthropic community can address the learning crisis brought on by the pandemic and support solutions previously considered difficult or impossible to implement. You will discuss what a “new normal” for learning should look like and how we can build improved education systems.

How is the program structured?

Stage 1, online from the beginning of March till the end of May 2021

You will begin with getting to know your cohorts and intercontinental course partner, dive into online modules over two months, and deepen collaboration with your partner. This online exchange will include 4 live sessions to be run every 3 weeks, requiring two hours of commitment per session, as well as recommended reading, pair and team work, and forum discussion to support participants’ learning journeys.

Stage 2, multi-day gathering of participants, June 2021

If health and safety conditions permit, this stage will take place in person in Moscow. Otherwise, a blended format will be adopted, bringing together Russian participants in Moscow and European participants in Brussels and connecting them through teleconferencing. This will take collaboration to the next level after several months of remote working. Participants will engage in group and plenary interaction; practical workshops and masterclasses; active exchange with high-level experts and leaders of philanthropic organizations; site visits to local non-profit organizations; and networking events with PLP alumni.

Who is eligible?

This program is open to representatives of the following types of organizations:

– Private foundations (operational and/or grantmaking)

– Corporate foundations or corporations involved in grantmaking

– Public charities and associations

– Philanthropy infrastructure organizations

– Other types of philanthropic organizations

EFC members will be given priority in the selection of European participants. Applicants should be fully committed to actively participating and engaging in the program and respecting the confidentiality of other participants. The applicant’s organization should fully support the applicant’s total participation for the duration of the program. As the program is conducted in English, the ability to work in English is essential.

Find out who participated in the 2019 edition

Costs

There are no registration costs for the program. Participants are responsible for covering the costs of travel to/from the program location for the in-person portion of the program, including costs associated with visas; and accommodation costs. All other costs associated with the program will be covered by the organizers.

How to apply

Applicants must demonstrate the explicit support of their organization’s management for their full participation in the program.

For more information on the program, and to apply go to: PLP: Russia-Europe.

The filled in application form should be e-mailed to Sevda Kilicalp by 23 December 2020.

The selection process

The EFC and the Vladimir Potanin Foundation make the selection of program participants from the application pool. All applicants will be notified of the final selection by mid-January 2021.

Apply now and be part of this growing global community of learning and practice!