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philanthropy

A whole new ball game

October 9, 2013

A top athlete’s name, money and drive can be an incredible boost for a charity, but does a career at the pinnacle of sport prepare you for life as a philanthropist? CampdenFB reports

After the final slog towards the Arc de Triomphe on the last leg of the 2005 Tour de France, world famous cyclist Lance Armstrong took to the podium to take the yellow jersey for a record-breaking seventh time.

Over the course of his career “le Boss” had become a household name – his tale made all the more powerful because it was a near miracle that he had ever raced at all. At the age of 25, Armstrong had been diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer, and even after hasty surgery doctors had only given him a 40% chance of survival. But survive he did.

Bill and Melinda Gates foster philanthropy down under

October 7, 2013

Bill and Melinda Gates met with some of Australia's wealthiest next gens last week as part of a programme to promote philanthropy among the nation's younger high net worth individuals.

The Gates – who have already given away a reported $28 billion (€20.6 billion) through their foundation – met with 20 scions of some of Australia's most famous dynasties for three hours in San Francisco.

Amanda Feenstra, daughter of communications baron Harold Mitchell, was on the trip, as well as Prue Pateras, a third gen of the Fairfax Media dynasty.

Big social investment fund targets family offices

August 1, 2013

UK publisher and social enterprise group Big Issue will seek family office investors to help it reach its £250 million (€287 million) target for an ambitious new social investment fund, which could potentially dominate the UK sector.

Announced this week, the new Big Issue Invest Fund Management division will launch a series of funds designed to offer financial returns for investors, and social returns for the enterprises and organisations it invests in.

Israeli shipping magnate gives £10 million to Tate Modern

July 3, 2013

Israeli shipping magnate Eyal Ofer has made quite a splash in the London art scene, announcing a huge donation to the UK's most visited gallery.

Israeli shipping magnate Eyal Ofer has made a splash in the London art scene, announcing a huge donation to the UK's most visited gallery.

Through the Eyal Ofer Family Foundation, Ofer – who with his younger brother Idan controls the Herzliya-based Ofer Brothers Group – donated £10 million (€11.8 million) towards the extension of the Tate Modern.

Philanthropy is a family affair for the Clintons

June 14, 2013

The Clinton Foundation, the multi-billion dollar philanthropic organisation founded by former US president Bill Clinton in 2001, is to be renamed the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation to reflect the roles of the entire family in the organisation.

The Clintons made the announcement on 13 June at the third-annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative America, at the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago.

Red Cross

June 3, 2013

Switzerland has a foundation for every 650 people, but what is it that makes it such an important centre for them?

Inselspital, one of Switzerland’s leading hospitals, started caring for patients back in the 14th century, making it one of the oldest hospitals in Europe.

Promotion as important as donation for philanthropy, research finds

May 31, 2013

Wealthy philanthropists who are discreet about their giving could be undermining their charitable efforts, a new study examining cultural trends in philanthropy reveals.

The first Individual Philanthropy Index, conducted by Forbes Insights and French bank BNP Paribas examining philanthropic giving in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, also found that motivating factors for giving varied across the regions studied.

The bricks of education

April 26, 2013

Education that revolves around play may sound like every kid's dream, and for some children in Billund, Denmark, it is about to become a reality at a new school founded by Lego.

The International School of Billund is the idea of Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, the third-gen former head of Lego. He is aiming to turn his hometown into a "capital of children".

The Kristiansen family's Lego Foundation will fund the project. The foundation, with a 25% stake in Lego Group, conducts and sponsors research into teaching and child development.

The business of family business giving

April 17, 2013

Whether to get the family business involved in giving, and how to approach business philanthropy can seem daunting at first but the following overview takes a look at the why and how.

It is fair to say that International Corporate Philanthropy Day 2013 passed this February without much fanfare in the UK. In fact, the year 2011, which the UK coalition Government designated ‘the year of corporate philanthropy’ also came and went without much notice.

Girl Power

April 2, 2013

The Bharti Foundation’s educational programmes aimed at India’s poorest people could dramatically improve their lives,
and change attitudes towards women.

If there is one thing that a philanthropist wants, it’s bang for their buck. One way to increase the chances that your money does real good is to address a problem where the possibility of success is great, and it’ll be clear what success looks like.

Take, for example, literacy rates among the underprivileged in India – and especially among girls. Female literacy there is appallingly low. Nationwide, just two-thirds of women can read and write, a number that falls to just half in the north-west state of Rajasthan.