Salzburg Seminar

Discussing the Future of Philanthropy at the Salzburg Seminar, Austria

24th October, 2006

Seven of the world’s foremost figures in the field of philanthropy will speak at the Salzburg Seminar between the 25th and the 28th of October 2006. The event, to take place in Salzburg, Austria, will be attended by fifteen eminent academics and social entrepreneurs from a variety of nations, including the US, the UK, Belgium, Canada, Palestine and the Philippines. It will be co-hosted by the Salzburg Seminar and the Institute for Philanthropy.

The speakers are as diverse as they are accomplished; the list includes Monica Patten, the President and CEO of Community Foundations of Canada, Atallah Kuttab, the Middle East regional director for Save the Children, and Jed Emerson, a Senior Fellow with Generation Foundation, of Generation Investment Management. Also appearing are Lucy Bernholz, author of the seminal work “Creating Philanthropic Capital Markets”, Rien van Gendt and Barry Gaberman, who are both previous recipients of the Council of Foundation’s Distinguished Grantmaker Award for their work with the Van Leer and Ford Foundations. The Institute’s Chief Executive, Dr. Salvatore LaSpada, will address this forum on the subject of “The Role of the Newly Wealthy.”

Cornelie Ferguson, the Institute’s Associate Director for Programmes, sees the seminar as an important step forward. She said that:

“Having recently attended the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, it is encouraging to see the emergence of more and more forums for the discussion of effective philanthropy. We hope that the Salzburg Seminar will lead towards an exciting new agenda in the field of private giving.”

Hosting the meeting for the Salzburg Seminar is its president and chief executive officer, Stephen Salyer. He commented that:

“Framing issues and setting agendas is what the Salzburg Seminar is about. By joining forces with leading thinkers in philanthropy we hope to stimulate thinking well beyond this initial gathering.”

About the Salzburg Seminar

The Salzburg Seminar convenes present and emerging leaders from government, business, academia, and the non-profit sector to seek creative solutions to global challenges. Its venue in the heart of Europe, Schloss Leopoldskron, provides a neutral meeting ground where diverse ideas and perspectives can be fully considered. Founded in 1947, the Seminar maintains an active network of more than 20,000 fellows in 150 countries.