Buzz Schmidt, Founder & Chair, GuideStar International
By Buzz Schmidt, Founder & Chair, GuideStar International
European Foundation Week Session: Philanthropy as the common platform for cross-country dialogue – Russia Donors Forum and United Way of Russia
This workshop, led by Russian Donors Forum and the United Way of Russia, addressed the role of foundations in cross-country dialogue from four distinct perspectives. Carsten Lenk of the Robert Bosch Stiftung described that foundation’s long interest in bilateral dialogue using examples of their German/Polish and German/Russian initiatives. Typically youth-oriented, these common learning strategies are more typical of the traditional approach. Anna Piotrovskaya, of the Dmitry Zimin Dynasty Foundation in Moscow, described that foundation’s focus on science education and awareness on the part of Russian youth. While cross-country dialogue is not the principal objective of this foundation, it is very involved in initiatives that have dialogue implications, such as encouraging development of science labs in Russia by leading non-Russian scientists and science roundtables that bring leading scientists to Russia in an serious forum for exchange while it educates a more general Russian audience.
Thomas Weihe, Victor Pinchuk Foundation, described the fascinating work that his foundation (and its charismatic leader, Pinchuk) are doing to expose the next generation of Ukrainian youth to the 21st century. Through programs in health, education, modern art and global issues, the foundation very consciously brings modern influences, thinkers and systems to the attention of young Ukrainians as well as current political leadership. Steve Greimann of the UW Hungary spoke about UW International’s cross-border collaborations among the national UWs. He expressed some disappointment about their success to date, especially given the potential.
Many of the audience questions dealt with the intersection of new technologies and the emerging modes of communications in social networks and the more traditional forms of cross-border dialogue. Is this new language of Twitter and Facebook, common now to a generation, a “game changer”? Will the availability of social media change strategies or even leapfrog more traditional approaches.
Implications for TechSoup Global: Global dialogue is happening at many levels, some formal, but increasingly more informal. Helping foundations recognize the opportunity to utilize social media opportunities to enhance, lever or replace their current initiatives may be a focus of attention for a TSG article, webinar or website knowledge module.
