Pre-conference ‘Safe Spaces’ & PhD Workshop: June 30, 2027

Main Conference: July 1-2, 2027

Where:

Campus Biotech, University of Geneva, Switzerland

Practical information:

Practical information regarding the location, hotels and local transportation will be shared soon here. 

Participation contribution:
PhD Students, retirees and participants from non-profits with an annual turnover of < 500.000 EUR: € 349 (early bird) / € 399 (regular)

Scholars and participants from non-profits with an annual turnover of <1.000.000 EUR: € 449 (early bird) / € 499 (regular)

Other categories (non profit representatives with an annual turnover of € 1.000.000 > / public and commercial sector): € 549 (early bird) / € 599 (regular)

Early bird rates end rates ends: March 31, 2027

Please note that (associated) individual membership is required to participate in the conference.

Why:

Philanthropy today operates in a world defined by complexity. Global challenges—ranging from geopolitical disruption, polarization, global warming, democratic decline, erosion of social cohesion, and humanitarian crises to widening social and economic inequality—demand responses that no single actor, sector, or discipline can tackle alone. At the same time, philanthropy itself is marked by significant diversity: of motives, identities, organizational forms, geographical scales, and visions of the public good. This diversity is a source of strength, but it also creates challenges. Fragmentation can limit the ability to act collectively and can raise questions about philanthropy’s legitimacy in democratic societies.

As collaboration becomes both essential and difficult, the philanthropic landscape is changing. Philanthropic organisations increasingly work alongside governments, international organisations, NGOs, social movements, businesses, and community groups. These partnerships bring opportunities, but also raise unresolved questions: How do actors with different incentives and levels of power build trust? What forms of cooperation lead to meaningful and lasting impact? How does philanthropy’s growing involvement in public problem-solving affect perceptions of legitimacy? And how can a wide range of voices—including those historically underrepresented—be included in these efforts?

Meanwhile, philanthropy is also being reshaped by technological and societal developments. Advances in artificial intelligence, data infrastructures, and digital participation are changing how philanthropic actors identify needs, design interventions, and collaborate with others. These tools create new possibilities, yet they also introduce concerns related to power, transparency, and accountability. At the same time, many philanthropic initiatives are linking their work to ambitions for system change—aiming not only to address symptoms but to influence underlying structures and institutions. This raises important questions about the role philanthropy can play in efforts to reshape systems, and how such ambitions interact with collaboration, legitimacy, and public expectations.

The 2027 ERNOP Conference invites scholars and practitioners to examine how collaboration is reshaping philanthropy and how diversity influences the possibilities, tensions, and outcomes of working together. We welcome contributions that explore collaboration at any level—local, national, regional, or global—and across various fields, including but not limited to health, humanitarian action, education, culture, peacebuilding, environment, migration, digital innovation, and social justice. We particularly encourage perspectives that connect technological change, system-level approaches, and the evolving role of philanthropy in society.

Hosted by the Geneva Centre for Philanthropy, a leading academic institution advancing research, education, and dialogue on philanthropy, the 2027 ERNOP Conference will take place in Geneva—one of the world’s foremost hubs for diplomacy, humanitarian action, and multilateral cooperation. This setting offers a unique opportunity to explore how philanthropy engages with international institutions and how diverse actors collaborate across borders and sectors. The conference aims to strengthen learning between academics and practitioners and to inspire new research agendas that will shape the future of philanthropic studies and practice.

Presenters are invited to speak to these conference themes and also to the following (non-exclusive) related areas:

• Altruism and generosity
• Alternative forms of philanthropy
• Artificial Intelligence and philanthropy
• Bequests and intergenerational transfers
• Cross-border giving
• Comparative cross-country studies of philanthropy
• Corporate philanthropy and CSR
• Cross-sector collaboration with for profit organizations and government
• Diaspora and community philanthropy
• Donor motivations, concerns and advisory needs
• Economics of philanthropy
• Efficacy, efficiency and performance evaluation
• Emerging philanthropy (philanthropies)
• European philanthropy (or philanthropies)
• Family philanthropy
• Fundraising strategies and practices
• Foundation roles and strategies
• Governance of foundations
• High net worth philanthropy
• Impact, outcomes and outputs ofpPhilanthropy

• (I)NGOs and philanthropy
• Legal, fiscal and regulatory issues in philanthropy
• Methodology for philanthropy research
• Morality and ethics of giving
• New frontiers and innovation in philanthropy
• Philanthropy and democracy
• Philanthropy and advocacy
• Private and public foundations
• Roles of philanthropy
• SDGs and philanthropy
• Social innovation, crowdfunding and philanthropy
• Social entrepreneurship and philanthropy
• Strategies for philanthropy
• System change and Philanthropy
• Theories of giving and volunteering
• Venture philanthropy, social investment
• Volunteering, giving time