Strategic and Operational Philanthropy

This module invites participants to investigate the diversity of grant-making foundations (family-led foundations, institutional foundations, corporate giving programmes, regranting entities, umbrella foundations, etc.). It will showcase how to translate motivations and societal aspirations into coherent philanthropic initiatives and question what may limit a foundation’s latitude to operate strategically. It will further explore different approaches to creating value and review recent trends and developments in the practice of philanthropy, such as investing in organisational development, adopting grantee-led approaches, working through funders' collaboratives, and the need for evidence-based interventions.

According to the purpose of the philanthropic organization and the country in which it is based, legal possibilities for structure and tax aspects can vary. This module considers available Swiss, European and international philanthropic legal structures, and will focus on those structures available under Swiss law. These range from traditional single purpose forms (foundations and associations) to hybrid (profit/non-profit) models. Tax, governance, and financial restrictions or requirements are also covered, along with Swiss and EU data protection regulations, as well as anti-money laundering and sanctions-related obligations.

How can philanthropic foundations and investors know if they are both having the impact they hope for and investing strategically? How can they collect evidence, learn and adapt, and communicate effectively about their impact to others? Developing a strategy and understanding how to measure its effectiveness is a requirement in today’s philanthropic activity. In this highly practical module, participants will learn how organisations can evaluate their impact, learn from experience and use evidence and insights to inform their decisions. This module introduces participants to planning, learning and evaluation in philanthropic strategies and initiatives. Participants will learn about different evaluation approaches and how to select the most appropriate ones depending on the context, purposes, and available resources. They will also use planning tools and frameworks such as results frameworks, theory of change and theory of philanthropy and will be introduced to the concept and tools of emergent learning. They will understand the importance of strategic learning and how it can increase the organisation’s effectiveness and programme quality.

The Inclusive Leadership and Governance course focuses on equipping participants with actionable strategies to lead with inclusive governance in the philanthropic sector. As the sector faces global challenges, strong leadership and effective governance are essential to drive social change. This course emphasizes the role of inclusive leadership in fostering collaboration, ensuring accountability, and empowering diverse voices, while also highlighting the importance of stewardship in managing resources for long-term impact. Participants will learn how boards and staff can work together effectively, ensuring the well-being of both teams and beneficiaries. Key topics include inclusive decision-making, ethical leadership, power dynamics, stewardship, and creating a culture of accountability. Through case studies and practical frameworks, you'll gain the tools to lead philanthropic organizations that are more inclusive, equitable, and impactful in achieving lasting social change.

In an ever-evolving world, shifting from VUCA to BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear and Incomprehensible), this module will equip participants with the adaptive tools needed to develop a resilient and responsible, human-centred culture and leadership. By using the foresight maturity model, we will explore various aspects of sustainable people management, both strategically and tactically. The course will cover seven key processes, including needs assessment aligned with the organization’s mission, managing volunteer teams, coordinating multi-country staff in multicultural settings, and identifying key dimensions of effective leadership and well-being. Additionally, we will investigate emerging trends in sustainability and the impacts of artificial intelligence on people management practices.

A rigorous selection of projects in line with the vision and strategy of the organisation is the best way to ensure efficiency and to maintain donors’ trust. This module therefore looks at a strategic and structured assessment of benefits, risks, collateral efforts and key success factors of each project. We examine how to manage philanthropic projects effectively in terms of resource allocations, coordination, impact and relationship with the donors. It will include best practices in working with grantees, the expectations of grant-givers and how they select the projects to be supported. The module also proposes a brief overview of communications.

This module tackles the challenge for non-profit foundation executives to strike a balance between creating public value and managing the bottom line. It is designed to help foundation executives understand the tools, techniques and concepts of good financial management and investments. Guided by experts in finance and accounting, participants will develop analytical skills for understanding their financial position more fully, their audited financial statements and learn to identify threats to the financial sustainability of their organisation. They will also learn how the effective use of budgeting and cash-flow planning can enhance their ability of creating value. Finally, based on the financial assessment of their organisation, they will learn how to optimally structure their financial investment portfolio.

Partnerships are essential to garnering funds and in-kind contributions, including time, expertise, and personal networks. The spirit of this module is to move away from money-centred fundraising to focus on collaborative and transformational donor-grantee relationships leading to sustainable financing. It will cover the proven fundamentals of private fundraising, including building donor loyalty through state-of-the-art donor journeys; sourcing philanthropic partners; fundraising resources; motivations for giving; offline fundraising models; digital fundraising. It will explore other funding models, such as public-private partnerships, as well as fundraising innovations that can help non-profit organisations raise funds in new ways and reach new, diverse audiences. It will show both sides of the same coin: fundraising and grant giving.

Advocacy can be defined as raising support for an idea, a policy or a plan. It can be practised through grassroots organising, coalition-building, lobbying, and public education campaigns, as well as judicial means. Advocacy in philanthropy serves as a powerful mechanism for driving change and addressing root causes of societal issues. Through case studies, guest speakers, and interactive exercises, students will learn how philanthropic organisations and individuals can leverage their resources, networks, and influence to advocate for policy reforms, amplify marginalised voices, and promote social justice. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to critically assess advocacy efforts in philanthropy and contribute meaningfully to advancing positive societal change.