Lessons learned from the Bodossaki Foundation, Greece

Join the Bodossaki Foundation for a panel discussion moderated by Calum Miller, Chief Operating Officer and Associate Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government.

Across Europe, societies are facing intractable challenges: rising inequality, high public debt and austerity, increased migration and refugee movements. These challenges raise questions about the role of philanthropy and how philanthropic foundations should best leverage their limited resources to promote effective long-term solutions and social change.

The Bodossaki Foundation in Greece is a case study for innovation in this field. Through strategic changes in response to Greece’s economic, social and migration crises, the Foundation has scaled up its impact since 2010, despite a reduction in its core funds, through maximising regranting capacity and offering non-financial support.

Drawing on this case study, this talk will present experiences and lessons learned from the frontline in Greece, and discuss their broader implications for the role of philanthropy and its contribution to governance in these difficult times.

This event is free and open to all. 

The talk will be livestreamed and recorded on the Blavatnik School of Government YouTube channel.

During the talk the following are referred to:
(2 min) clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hto4GDH3HLU
(8 min) video that documents some of the work supporting refugees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cDnXphWA2s

Speakers

Sotiris Laganopoulos is the Secretary of the Bodossaki Foundation and has served as Programme Director for the EEA Grants Greek NGO Programme. Mr. Laganopoulos has managed more than €100M euros in donations and has a deep knowledge of international standards and tools to measure social impact and the effectiveness of social investment programmes. He is also a member of the Legal Committee of the European Foundation Centre. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Democritus University of Thrace and a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics.

Jennifer Clarke PhD is Capacity Building Programme Coordinator at the Bodossaki Foundation, where she plays a key role in the Foundation’s strategy to strengthen Greek civil society. She has 20 years’ experience in the field of civil society capacity building, both in Greece and internationally, including on behalf of the European Commission.  She holds a PhD from the University of Kent, an MA from the Université Libre de Bruxelles and a BA from the University of Cambridge. She co-edited Austerity and the Third Sector in Greece (Routledge 2015).

The first image is by Yannis Kontos and portrays a refugee boy doing creative work in one of the shelters the Foundation has funded through the thematic fund “Safe Home”.