The European Foundation Centre in Brussels is hosting the first Philanthropic Leadership Platform China-Europe 4-14 September 2016. Selected for the intensive peer-led programme are twenty managers and programme officers (ten each from China and Europe) representing major foundations and philanthropic organisations, many active in the arts and culture fields.

Philanthropic organisations across the globe are grappling with the same fundamental questions around impact, effecting change, and understanding their role in taking on societal challenges. In the firm belief that learning from each other is key to tackling such questions, this intensive, ten-day leadership development programme brings together 20 mid- to senior-level philanthropic practitioners from China and Europe to enhance their leadership skills by sharing with each other their knowledge, experience, creativity and concerns. The programme is funded by Stiftung Mercator and led by the EFC in partnership with the China Global Philanthropy Institute.

The programme will challenge participants to think deeply about the following questions:

• Have you thought about how you can be a leader of transformation and not only a manager of turnaround?


• Do you know what it takes to transform your approach to solving a problem?


• Have you reflected on how you can think outside the box and create alternative business models?

The programme will revolve around the theme of social innovation, but will also be aligned with participants’ own interests and expertise. The aim is for participants to go back to their home organisations and contexts with new perspectives, tools and insights that will make them better leaders, and in turn enhance the impact of their organisations.

To boost the sharing experience, participants will be paired up throughout the programme with their intercontinental peers.

This peer-led programme raises questions and contests alternatives through group and plenary interaction, and active exchange among high-level experts and leaders of institutions in the public, private and voluntary sectors. The programme will revolve around the theme of social innovation, but will also be aligned with participants’ own interests and expertise. Topics on the agenda will include:

• Leadership – What it is, what is required and leadership styles


• Tools leaders use to intervene and transform


• Social innovation in policy and practice


• How to evaluate impact


• How to use the power of collaboration and levers of influence to develop capability to engage in social innovation


• Using peer learning as a resource

Year 1: Takes place 4-14 September 2016 in Brussels

The programme location alternates annually between Europe and China, with a new set of participants each year. Participants will get the opportunity to visit locations within a two-hour travel range, as well as experience first-hand the work of philanthropy and NGOs locally.

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The programme is funded by Stiftung Mercator and led by the EFC in partnership with China Global Philanthropy Institute.

Stiftung Mercator, an EFC member, is a private and independent foundation. Through its work it strives for a society characterised by openness to the world, solidarity and equal opportunities.

The European Foundation Centre is an association of philanthropic organisations with members from across Europe and the globe.

China Global Philanthropy Institute is a joint initiative of five Chinese and American philanthropists and aims to help strengthen China’s charity sector and to encourage international cooperation.