Press release: EFC 2019 Conference gathers around the world’s most famous rallying cry: “Liberté, égalité, philanthropie” – 22-24 May 2019, Paris
Brussels, 21 February 2019 – Liberté, égalité, fraternité, the national motto of France and the familiar rallying cry for freedom, equality and solidarity worldwide, will be the focus of this year’s EFC’s Annual Conference, which will examine ways in which philanthropy can tackle the array of critical and constantly evolving challenges which are preventing these aspirations from becoming concrete achievements.
“Liberté, égalité, philanthropie”, the EFC’s 30th Annual Conference, will take place in Paris from 22 – 24 May 2019, bringing together more than 650 representatives from the philanthropic sector, academia and civil society from across the globe to address the most pressing current topics, trends and themes. These range from inequality, social injustice and participatory societies to climate change, data, digital and disability.
The Conference, which features a series of interactive sessions and topical plenaries, is designed hand in hand with EFC’s members and other foundations in France. And this year, more than ever, the EFC’s Thematic Networks and Communities of Practice have been instrumental in developing cutting-edge sessions which will bring the knowledge and experience of the groups to an external audience.
Site visits are an integral part of the conference and give participants exposure to greater Paris and the work of local philanthropic actors. Participants will experience some of the city’s most diverse and innovative initiatives; from the community work of philharmonic orchestras and initiatives supporting women in business to social integration through gastronomy and the world’s smallest circus – an international social networking laboratory.
The Conference will also be a key event to celebrate 230 years since the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in France; 50 years of Fondation de France, one of the EFC’s seven founding members and 2019 Conference Chair; and the EFC’s own 30thanniversary.
About the Conference
As the key networking event on the European philanthropic calendar, the EFC’s annual conference gives members the chance to meet with over 650 professionals and representatives from philanthropy, corporates, (I)NGOs, EU and multilateral institutions, think tanks and the media. Participants share, learn and explore together new ideas and approaches to tackling the urgent challenges of our times, forging connections that last well beyond the conference. The event is held in a different European city each year, rotating back to Brussels regularly to give delegates a chance to engage with the EU institutions and policymakers.
For the full programme and practical details: https://events.efc.be/AGA2019
The Host and Programme Committees of the EFC’s 2019 Annual Conference
The success of the conference depends on the vital contribution of the EFC’s members and other foundations in the host country.
The Host Committee comprises representatives from France’s most prominent foundations and philanthropic organisations: Fondation de France (Chair), Fondation Accenture; Fondation Apprentis d’Auteuil; Fondation BNP Paribas; Fondation Caritas; Fondation Chanel; Fondation Daniel et Nina Carasso, Fondation de l’Orangerie pour la philanthropie individuelle, Fondation HEC, Fondation la France s’engage, Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme, Fondation Mérieux, Fondation Pierre Deniker and Fondation Schneider Electric.
The Programme Committee comprises representatives of foundations and philanthropic organisations from across Europe: Barrow Cadbury Trust; ERSTE Foundation; ESSL Foundation; Fondation Daniel and Nina Carasso; Fondation de France; Fondazione CRT; National Foundation for Civil Society Development – Croatia; Riksbankens Jubileumsfonds; Stiftung Mercator and the Trafigura Foundation.