Author Archive:
Charles Keidan
Bertelsmann chief: make the SDGs philanthropy’s lingua franca
One of Europe’s leading foundations has urged an audience of philanthropy leaders to embrace the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the unifying principle and ‘lingua franca’ of the global philanthropy sector. The comments …
European foundations commit $13 million to tackle planet and climate crisis
Four of Europe’s leading foundations tackling climate change have committed $13 million (€11.6 million) of funding to advance work to protect the ‘global commons’ – the areas and ecosystems of our planet on which we …
Philanthropy bodies criticise Bill Gates for Modi award
The world’s leading philanthropist, Bill Gates, is facing growing criticism from the philanthropic sector for his decision to give an award to India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in recognition of the Indian government’s Swachh Bharat …
Foundations open shop in Berlin as British philanthropy assumes Brexit footing
The world’s second largest Foundation, the London based Wellcome Trust, is advancing plans to grow its staffing and operations in Berlin ahead of the UK’s departure from the European Union. While The Trust insists its …
The battle to build a human rights movement fit for the times
The open, liberal, and democratic societies which human rights help to foster are under sustained attack. Right-wing governments and movements have harnessed popular discontent and trained fire on groups which human rights legislation was established …
Democracy calling: Interview with Hans Schöpflin and Tim Göbel
Two key influences on the philanthropy of Hans Schöpflin, co-founder of the Schöpflin Foundation, have been his experience of living in the US and, more importantly, the death of his son from a heroin overdose. …
The long haul for human rights: Interview with Adrian Arena
The human rights movement is facing difficult times. In these circumstances, human rights funders have a particularly important role to play in sustaining the fight. Adrian Arena of Oak Foundation is now a veteran in …
OSF comes to Berlin: Interview with Selmin Çalışkan
Selmin Çalışkan is director of Institutional Relations at the recently opened Berlin office of Open Society Foundations (OSF). Charles Keidan talked to her at the Association of German Foundations’ conference in Mannheim about the difficulties …
Philanthropy has failed the people of Gaza
A decade ago, I visited the Gaza Strip. It was a few months after the end of Operation Cast Lead, Israel’s military attempt to contain the Palestinian group Hamas. Few private foundations had travelled to …
Sustainability is the driving force: Interview with Lavinia Jacobs
One of Switzerland’s leading foundations, the Jacobs Foundation has forged a reputation for its research-based and system-wide approach to the problems it decides to take on. Its chairperson Lavinia Jacobs talks to Charles Keidan about …
