This week will see celebrations in Brussels marking 25 years of the European Foundation Centre. Says EFC chief executive Gerry Salole: ‘These activities aim to help us look back on our quarter century, to look at today’s burning issues that members are working on, and to look ahead and think through how and where philanthropy can add value and make an impact in a fast changing, uncertain and dynamic world.’

The highlight of this week is EuroPhilantopics, the annual event for foundations and EU institutions to come together and consider the challenges facing people and communities in the next 5-10 years, with a view to collaborating on shared agendas and gaining more in-depth knowledge of current issues. On the agenda: migration, the cost of inaction on youth unemployment, the ‘circular economy’ and how it could improve sustainability, and reframing the economics of change. Following EuroPhilantopics will be the annual Raymond Georis Lecture.

To commemorate its 25th anniversary, the EFC has launched an anniversary blog – ‘EFC@25 – 25 Thoughts – 25 Philanthropists’, which over 25 weeks will feature 25 key EFC members’ reflections on the EFC, its journey over the past 25 years and thoughts on its future – starting with CAF’s Jane Arnott on 19 September. Check it out!