Europe’s civil society organisations engage with public authorities in markedly different ways—from formal consultation structures and national philanthropy strategies to informal networks and issue-based coalitions. Drawing on Philea and BEP’s study Philanthropy & Public Authorities: Harnessing the Power of Collaborative Dialogue in Europe, this session will examine what effective engagement looks like in practice.
Representatives from Ireland, the Netherlands and Finland will compare three different national approaches: institutionalised policy dialogue, recurring cross-sector cooperation and informal engagement built on trusted relationships. They will explore what has worked, where barriers remain and how organisations representing philanthropy and fundraising can strengthen one another’s advocacy.
The discussion will consider what these experiences mean for EFA members’ relationships with public authorities and how closer cooperation between EFA and Philea could help create a stronger enabling environment for philanthropy and fundraising across Europe.
