WINGS contact:

Mr. Gerry Salole
Chief Executive

Address:

General telephone:

General fax:

General e-mail:

Website:

Type of organisation:

Year incorporated:

Purpose/Mission:

To strengthen the independent funding element of European philanthropy through robust cooperation with an array of partners. The EFC realises its vision and mission through four priority areas:

• Creating an enabling legal and fiscal environment for foundations
• Communicating and documenting European philanthropy
• Benchmarking and capacity-building
• Network-building

Who we serve:

Approximately 220 members, and over 60 associates and subscribers.

Geographic area:

Region:

Programmes:

• Creating an enabling environment through representation and monitoring: EFC's core work is giving a voice to independent funders at the level of the European Union and global levels and providing our members with critical legal and fiscal guidance and knowledge.
• Knowledge resources on funders: The Centre has built an in-depth knowledge base on foundations and corporate funders active in and with Europe. This knowledge is disseminated through a range of channels, including the Internet, hard copy publications, and information releases. We use this knowledge base to give customised answers to information and research requests from Centre members and partners.
• Communicating European philanthropy: A core aim of the Centre is to tell the story of foundations, including the work they do and the people who make it happen. EFFECT magazine is the Centre's main vehicle used for achieving this objective.
• Capacity-building through professional development EFC's Philanthropy Institute Programme (PIP) helps foundation staff strengthen their professional skills through seminars, roundtables and symposia.
• Annual conference: The EFC's Annual General Assembly (AGA) and Conference is the premier event on the calendar of major independent funders active in and with Europe.
• Funder networks: We give independent funders a platform to get together on issues and geographic regions they care about.
• Reaching out: The EFC reaches out to form partnerships with other grantmaker associations, including European national associations of donors, consortia of funders, public authorities, multilateral institutions and individual donors in Europe and the world. The EFC hosts the WINGS (Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support) Global Fund for Community Foundations.
• Europe in the World: The EFC brings funders together to boost engagement and resources in international issues and global development through our Europe in the World Fund.
• Community philanthropy: The EFC promotes the development of community philanthropy organisations in Europe and the world.

Publications:

For full details of the EFC's publications, you can search the WINGS eLibrary or visit the EFC's website: www.efc.be. Publications include:

• Advancing equality: What can foundations do? A selected overview of Equal (2007)
• EFC Principles of Good Practice (2007)
• Implementing the EFC Principles: Illustrative Practice Options for Foundations (2007)
• Principles of Accountability for International Philanthropy (2007)
• European Perspectives on Global Health: A Policy Glossary (2006)
• Foundations' Support of European Citizenship: A Snapshot (2006)
• Funding Vocational Training and Employment for People with Disabilities, Guidelines for Good Grantmaking Practice (2003)
• Disaster Grantmaking: A Practical Guide for Foundations and Corporations (2001)
• European Foundation Fundamentals (1999)
• Independent Funding: A Directory of Foundation and Corporate Members of the EFC (2006)
• Funding vocational training and employment for people with disabilities in Europe (2002)
• Funding Minorities and Multiculturalism in Europe: Funders' activities against racism and for equality in diversity (2001)
• Youth Funding in Europe (2000)
• Foundations' Legal and Fiscal Environments - Mapping the European Union of 27 (2007)
• Comparative highlights of foundation laws: the European Union of 27 (2007)
• Foundations in the European Union: Rethinking our legal and fiscal environments (2003)

EFFECT - the EFC's flagship publication for and about European foundations. EFFECT reflects the EFC's commitment to telling the story of European philanthropy, with a particular emphasis on its members. The magazine brings readers up-to-date coverage on the role of foundations and their impact in Europe; features trends in the sector; takes a look at the political, legal and fiscal environments in which foundations work; provides tools and tips for foundations to use in their work; and showcases examples of how foundations carry out their work, both individually and collaboratively.

EFFECT was launched in spring 2007 and is published three times per year: spring, summer, autumn.

• EFC Update - The Centre's monthly e-newsletter reporting on the latest activities of the EFC's programme committees and secretariat (for EFC members and partners only)
• CP Update - The newsletter of the EFC Community Philanthropy Initiative (electronic format, published monthly)
• DMIIG e-Newsletter - provides information on and for foundations that are working in the fields of diversity and migration.
• DIG e-Newsletter - provides information on and for foundations that are working in the fields of disabilities.