Philanthropic Leadership Platform: Russia-Europe

The 2nd edition of the Philanthropic Leadership Platform: Russia-Europe takes place in 2021. Twenty philanthropy professionals from Russia and Europe will gather to share knowledge, experience, and insights during this multi-month, intensive, peer-learning leadership development programme.

When and where?

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

• Stage 1: Online from March to June 2021
• Stage 2: Multi-day gathering of participants, June 2021

Which themes will be explored?

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 organisations and communities.
• Community regeneration and economic recovery: Philanthropic organisations 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-centred economy should look like and specific roles philanthropy can play to make it happen.
• Digitalisation: COVID-19 has accelerated the pace of the digital transformation that our societies have already been undergoing. While digitalisation 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 programme structured?

• Stage 1, online from March to June 2021
  You will begin with getting to know your cohorts and intercontinental course partner, dive into online modules over three 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 organisations; site visits to local non-profit organisations; and networking events with PLP alumni.

Who is eligible?

This programme is open to representatives of the following types of organisations:

• Private foundations (operational and/or grantmaking)
• Corporate foundations or corporations involved in grantmaking
• Public charities and associations
• Philanthropy infrastructure organisations
• Other types of philanthropic organisations

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

Costs

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

How to apply

Applications are closed for the 2021 edition.

The selection process

Philea and the Vladimir Potanin Foundation make the selection of programme participants from the application pool. All applicants are notified of the final selection.

About the organisers

The platform is organised by Philea in partnership with, and with the financial support of, the Vladimir Potanin Foundation.

The Vladimir Potanin Foundation, a Philea member, is one of the largest private foundations in Russia and works towards developing a philanthropy culture, uniting creative professionals who play a key role in solving current public issues and achieving sustainable social change; and provides opportunities for new ideas and creates a favourable environment to make them come true.

Philea is an association of philanthropic organisations with members from across Europe and the globe, working to strengthen the sector and make the case for institutional philanthropy as a formidable means of effecting change.

What some PLP: Russia-Europe alumni have to say about the programme: