2017 may mark the beginning of the first full year of the EFC’s new Strategic Framework, but many of the seeds sown last year are germinating and in some cases already bearing fruit. New thematic networks are now up and running on topics as diverse as ‘democracy’ and ‘corporate philanthropy’, for example.

The framework’s first priority – ‘Nurturing philanthropy’ – is a term the EFC will refer to throughout the coming months, and it entails actively working with wider philanthropic infrastructure to help nurture an environment in which philanthropy can flourish. It has a number of facets, but put simply it means creating better connections with the EU and other institutions and increasing engagement in policy and advocacy work as a way to heighten EFC’s responsiveness to issues affecting institutional philanthropy.

Meanwhile, in tandem with cultivating the landscape, EFC will also be striving to push the sector forward. An example of this is the stepping up of its ‘incubation’ work – that is to say offering EFC members a protected yet collaborative space for their nascent ideas to develop.

Members will able to find out all about the first 12 months of the framework at the EFC’s Annual General Assembly and Conference in Warsaw from 31 May-2 June.

For more information visit the EFC website.