DAS Strategic and Operational Philanthropy 2021
Information
Period
September 2021 - August 2022Language
EnglishFormat
Blended learningRegistration
Early bird deadline
31 March 2021Registration deadline
31 May 2021Fees:
DAS: CHF 14'000.-
Single module: CHF 2000.- (2 ECTS credits) / CHF 3000.- (3 ECTS credits)
Early bird: 10% discount
Objectives
- Understand philanthropy from a systemic perspective
- Become equipped to master the complex, multifaceted context of contemporary Swiss and international philanthropy
- Learn about the principles, best practices and key strategic elements to set up and run a structured and professional philanthropic organization
Audience
Learning outcomes
At the end of the programme participants will be able to:
- Understand and master the knowledge of conceptual philanthropy frameworks as well as differences between private and corporate philanthropy
- Use strategic and operational tools within their own professional philanthropic fields and evaluate their results
- Understand operational imperatives of philanthropy to successfully put them into practice with particular attention to the SDGs
- Develop a philanthropic strategy in line with their organisation’s mission and general objectives
- Know how to operationalise a strategy from the selection and contracting of projects, through monitoring to the evaluation results
- Develop skills needed to successfully develop partnerships, with both the public and private sector as well as the essentials of fundraising and fund management
- Understand both funding and funder sides of philanthropy
Programme
Modules 1-6: CAS Strategic philanthropy
- Module 1: Introduction to philanthropy and social investment
- Module 2: Defining a coherent philanthropic project, in light of the Foundation’s context of creation
- Module 3: Leadership and Diversity
- Module 4: Managing for Impact: Evaluative measures and practices to understand and assess ‘impact’ in the context of the SDGs and ESG
- Module 5: Selecting and Managing philanthropic projects
- Module 6: Legal structuring of philanthropic projects and relevant financial, governance, and tax parameters
Modules 7-12: CAS Operational philanthropy
- Module 7: Human-centric resources structures and processes for philanthropic performance
- Module 8: Philanthropic Financial Management and Accountability
- Module 9: Interacting with regional philanthropic realities
- Module 10: Partnership Development and fund management
- Module 11: Effective Communication and Negotiation
- Module 12: Trends in Philanthropy: SDGs, Innovation, Systems Change, Technology, and your Role in the Future of Philanthropy
Final project
Director(s)
Prof. Giuseppe UGAZIO, Geneva School of Economics and Management (GSEM) and Geneva Finance Research Institute (GFRI), Laetitia GILL, Geneva Centre for Philanthropy (GCP), University of Geneva and Danièle CASTLE, Genevensis Communications
Coordinator(s)
Partnership
Fee
Speakers
Description
This module provides participants of different professional, educational and cultural backgrounds with a common analytical and conceptual framework which includes an introduction to philanthropy. It examines what the drivers of philanthropy are, what professionalisation of philanthropy entails and the differences between social investment and philanthropy. This module will also span private/family philanthropy, corporate philanthropy, operating foundations, community foundations, social investment and the creation of public-private partnerships (PPP). It will also introduce new models of philanthropy and finance.
Planning
8 hours in class; 8 hours online; reading up at home 34 hours
Fee
Speakers
Description
This module prepares participants to address the most essential questions when setting up a philanthropic organization. It will showcase how to translate personal motivations and philanthropic ideals into actionable principles defining the essence of a philanthropic organization. We will distinguish different types of philanthropy, such as family-led foundations, corporate giving or regranting entities, among others. We will address questions such as: what are the key dimensions which need to be orchestrated for a coherent philanthropic project, what are different approaches to deliver impact, and what are the defining factors to build a foundation’s strategy.
Planning
8 hours in class; 8 hours online, reading up at home 34 hours
Fee
Speakers
Description
For philanthropic organisation to reach their objectives with minimum operating expenses and with the understanding that engaged employees deliver higher performance, they must ensure that employees are engaged and active as well as to have an effective board. This module explains the levers that enable leaders to motivate teams and reassure donors. Understanding what leadership means to different generations, how leadership selects diverse teams, how to mobilise and motivate teams, members and volunteers and how to manage in complex situations are all part of this course. As board/staff interaction when badly managed can be deleterious to a philanthropic venture, this module also examines how philanthropic boards and staff interact most effectively. Finally, how to integrate ethics and what ethics means for a philanthropic leader is also part of the module.
Planning
16 hours in class; 8 hours online, reading up at home 51 hours
Fee
Speakers
Description
Developing a strategy and understanding how to measure its effectiveness is a requirement in today’s philanthropic activity, as more and more organisations compete for money and attention. In this module participants will learn how organisations evaluate their impact and what theories of impact measurement exist, beyond simply fixing strategy, objectives and outcomes. Participants will learn to set up their organization’s “theory of change”, understand the differences between inputs, outcomes, outputs, and impact, and how to measure each of these. They will learn about logical frameworks and other tools that organisations use. This module also covers the unintended (potentially negative) consequences of philanthropic interventions.
Planning
16 hours in class; 8 hours online, reading up at home 51 hours
Fee
Speakers
Description
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 donor 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 distribute and coordinate resource allocations across projects, strategies for maximizing complementarity between projects, and effective project management. It will include best practices in working with grantees, acknowledging the power dynamic of the funder-donor relationship, using trust and relationship building. The module also proposes monitoring and evaluation tools adapted to different sectors of philanthropy e.g. health, education, poverty reduction, as well as sourcing opportunities, such as using open applications, call for proposals, invite-only etc.
Planning
16 hours in class; 8 hours online, reading up at home 51 hours
Fee
Speakers
Description
According to the purpose of the philanthropic organisation and the country in which it is based, legal possibilities for structure and tax aspects will vary. This module will consider 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. Innovative contract-based solutions, such as public-private partnerships (PPPs) and impact bonds will also be presented. Tax, governance and financial-related restrictions and/or requirements will be addressed when reviewing the various possible structures.
Planning
16 hours in class; 8 hours online, reading up at home 51 hours
Fee
Speakers
Description
As many Swiss foundations are small, and often friends and family are co-opted, this module provides the know-how to structure the organisation to assess required skills, develop a staff growth plan and put into place policies, that are coherent with the overall philanthropic vision and mission and strategy. This module will examine human resources management, needs assessment, running volunteer teams, multi-country staff and multicultural settings in respect with the values and culture of the institution. Ensuring that learning and development is happening at all levels of the organization. It will examine Swiss staffing laws and practices and draw general guidelines for international staff and give the tools to develop and enhance the team leadership and performance. It will also address motivating and maintain volunteers.
Planning
16 hours in class; 8 hours online, reading up at home 51 hours
Fee
Speakers
Description
This module will cover basic financial management principles as well as how to create budgets, monitor and control spending, creating financial statements and GAAP compliance. It will include information on the structure of the financial planning and management of the foundation, depending on the structure of a foundation (is it a foundation managed into perpetuity or one that is in spend-down?), on how finances are managed and invested (In-house, with asset managers or as part of holdings in a company?), and on the region of activity of the organization (does it operate nationally, cross-border, both?). It will also deliver the means to estimate the sustainability and level of agreement between the mission of a foundation and its investments.
Planning
8 hours in class; 8 hours online, reading up at home 34 hours
Fee
Speakers
Description
Philanthropy is frequently operating internationally interacting with very diverse geographies, cultures, societies, and traditions. These are often very different from the backgrounds of organizations board members, project managers, and decision makers. To successfully and ethically develop projects across borders and cultures, philanthropic organizations need to build solid relations with local entities, such as grass root movements or local NGOs. In this module we focus on strategies to involve and listen to these local entities in the project planning of organization and analyses to anticipate potential unintended consequences. This module further looks at the current debate on the legitimacy of philanthropy, which results by well-intended but poorly planned cross-border philanthropic initiatives. We will also learn how to plan and develop advocacy strategies to engage with local governments and NGOs (including potentially illegal organizations) tailoring these to local traditions and customs, discussing the limitations of a one-size fits all advocacy.
Planning
16 hours in class; 8 hours online, reading up at home 51 hours
Fee
Speakers
Description
In an increasingly connected world, partnerships, networks and collaborations are essential to garnering funds and in-kind contributions. This module will focus on donor grantee relationships and understanding grantees needs. It will also cover principles for online (crowdsourcing, etc.) and offline (door-to-door, campaigning, legacy, etc.) fundraising. It will also explore how to complement for-profit activities to raise funds for non-profit operations and how to integrate new business models within non-profits. This module will examine different collaborations, partnership and network models that facilitate impact. It also looks at new and innovative models to build sustainable partnerships, both in kind and financial, between privates and also private and public (PPPs) to further philanthropic action.
Planning
16 hours in class; 8 hours online, reading up at home 51 hours
Fee
Speakers
Description
In a world where organisations compete for attention, communications fulfil vital roles in raising awareness of issues and solutions, attracting staff and volunteers, and donors. Understanding how to target specific audiences and craft meaningful messaging and campaigns are a key part of having visibility and reach. This is particularly relevant for organizations whose current projects are frequently international and involve different cultures, geo-political landscapes and religions. In these scenarios is where the legitimacy of philanthropy and of its effectiveness is most likely to be questioned. This module delivers key insights for achieving effective communication, considering, among others, audience segmentation, messaging, and storytelling. Here we focus on effective communications both online and off-line. Finally, this module discusses how to leverage diversity and cross-cultural settings looking at techniques for conflict resolution and strategies for negotiations with other stakeholders to build successful partnerships.
Planning
16 hours in class; 8 hours online, reading up at home 51 hours
Fee
Speakers
Description
This module introduces the SDGs and discuses key trends in philanthropy, looking at the role of philanthropic organizations in funding innovation, systems change and leveraging technology (e.g., artificial intelligence). It also covers emerging trends in philanthropy (e.g. growth, activism, collaboration, new models, diversity inclusion) and how philanthropy is practiced differently around the world. The module will help you understand the motivation and drivers of philanthropists and foundations and develop your own role influencing the future of philanthropy.
Planning
8 hours in class, reading up at home 17 hours
Assessment
To complete the DAS participants will have to complete a final project.
Pedagogical method
Hybrid : In-person and online/distance learning
Admission criteria
A minimum of three years professional experience is required, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and English proficiency.
Participants without responsibilities in philanthropy may be admitted on the basis of other comparable and relevant experiences:
- Family office philanthropy managers
- Managers in philanthropic giving organisations
- Managers in organisation who receive philanthropic giving
- Project managers
- Operational and strategic foundation managers
- Social entrepreneurs
- People desirous to enter the field of philanthropy
- Wealth managers interested in integrating philanthropic instruments to their (sustainable) investments portfolios (e.g. blended finance)
Steering committee
Giuseppe Ugazio (GSEM/GFRI), Laetitia Gill and Danièle Castle (Genevensis Communication)
Comité scientifique
Anderson Helen – International Committee of the Red Cross , Chang Cheryl – Oak Foundation, Epalle Alexandre – State of Geneva, Freiburghaus Aline – SwissFoundations, Ries-Bowman Isabelle – World Economic Forum, Renaud Thierry – Mava Foundation
Number of participants
Detailed fees
14000 CHF for the DAS, 7500 for each CAS, 2000 CHF for 2 ECTS modules and 3000 CHF for 3 ECTS modules. 10% early bird discount before March 31 2021
Schedule
Fridays and Saturdays 09:00 to 17:00 and online