Safe Spaces for Philanthropy: Connecting Academia and Practice
Download the preliminary programme here.
On 24 September 2025, ERNOP will again host and facilitate Safe Spaces for Philanthropy, fostering in-depth exchanges between academics and philanthropy professionals. This initiative is designed to create a trusted environment where participants can engage in open, constructive dialogue on key themes that shape the philanthropic sector.
Organized in collaboration with Philanthropy Europe Association (Philea), the Safe Spaces offer a unique platform for peer learning, strategic insights, and research-driven discussions. For practitioners, this means an opportunity to engage with peers on topics that often create friction in their organizations, while gaining academic perspectives that help navigate these challenges. Academics, in turn, benefit from first-hand insights into the sector’s most pressing issues, ensuring that their research remains relevant and grounded in practice.
A Setting for Meaningful Exchange
To ensure open and in-depth conversations, participation in the Safe Spaces is by application only. Prospective participants must submit a brief motivation explaining their interest and commitment to the dialogue. Additionally, all attendees will formally agree to the Chatham House Rule, which allows for free exchange of ideas while maintaining confidentiality regarding speaker identities and affiliations.
By carefully curating participation and setting clear expectations, we create an inclusive, trust-based environment where real challenges can be addressed, best practices shared, and new avenues for collaboration explored.
Themes at the Safe Spaces for Philanthropy 2025
Themes include Justice Philanthropy, exploring how philanthropic practices can contribute to greater social, environmental, and economic justice; Trust-Based Grantmaking, examining how more flexible and transparent funding approaches can empower grantees while ensuring accountability; and Data Sharing in Philanthropy, addressing the challenges and opportunities of exchanging data to improve collaboration and decision-making across the sector. Other sessions will focus on The Impact of Volunteerism, discussing the effects of volunteering on individuals, organisations, and society, and The Future of Face-to-Face Fundraising, reflecting on the changing dynamics of donor engagement.
From Dialogue to Impact
As part of this initiative, ERNOP is partnering with Voluntary Sector Review to publish a series of Policy and Practice Papers directly linked to the discussions in the Safe Spaces. Each paper will be co-authored by the academic and practitioner moderating a session, ensuring that the insights gained translate into actionable knowledge for both research and practice.
Through these Safe Spaces, we continue to strengthen the bridge between academia and practice, ensuring that philanthropy benefits from the latest research while academics remain deeply connected to the realities of the sector.
Would you like to be part of this conversation? Applications are open now and you can register below: