Check back later for details on the 2010 Summer Seminar.

Madeleine Albright, former United States Secretary of State and Principal of the Albright Group, LLC, joined the 2008 Summer Seminar for an "in conversation" format with Aspen Vice President and GPF Founder Jane Wales.

The 2008 seminar happened July 27 – 29, 2008, in Aspen, CO.  Also speaking – and  taking part in the seminar were:

• Michael Edwards, Director of Governance and Civil Society at the Ford Foundation and author of numerous books including the newly released Just Another Emperor: The Myths and Realities of Philanthrocapitalism
  
• Jacqueline Khor, Managing Director of Imprint Capital Advisors and former Associate Director of Program Venture Investments at the Rockefeller Foundation

The Seminar welcomes individual philanthropists and foundation trustees seeking to learn and share practical strategies to generate lasting philanthropic impact.  The Seminar offers a highly participatory atmosphere, values-based dialogue and an emphasis on strategy and impact. 

Download the agenda here.

The GPF's annual summer Philanthropy Seminar offers a highly participatory, informal and intimate atmosphere in which to explore ideas, values and methods of achieving social change.  Together, seminar participants will challenge conventional wisdom and forge relationships with peers ans they reflect upon the nature and values that define their giving.  By carefully considering real-life challenges inherent in giving across cultures and borders, the seminar will confront the recurring tensions and far reaching rewards of international giving

Seminar participants will leave the Philanthropy Seminar with an increased understanding of the core values that animate their philanthropy - and the means of giving those values philanthropic expression. They will have formed lasting relationships with others who wish to continually hone their strategies for effecting social change.

Through open, informal dialogue with philanthropic peers and discussions of classical and other relevant readings, participants will explore:

• The roots of social change
• The role of values in effective philanthropy
• The meaning of philanthropy in their own lives
• The strategies that have proved most effective

The Seminar confronts the recurring tensions that arise between such goals as equity and liberty, the individual and the community, or engagement and empowerment. As we delve into strategy and method, we take part in focused exercises so that we can consider specific challenges and apply the methods about which we will have heard and read throughout the Seminar.

The summer Philanthropy Seminar is open to Global Philanthropy Forum Members and invited guests.  Visit our Membership Page to learn more about becoming a member. 

Past speakers and moderators have included:

Brizio Biondi-Morra, President, Fundacion AVINA
Bill Gates Sr., Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Leslie Crutchfield & Heather McLeod Grant, Co-authors, Forces for Good
David Keller, President, David & Anita Keller Foundation
Lisa and Charly Kleissner, Co-founders, KL Felicitas Foundation
Mark Kramer, Founder and Managing Director, FSG Social Impact Advisors and Executive,
Trustee, Milton A. & Charlotte R. Kramer Foundation
Michael Milken, chairman of the Milken Institute, and co-founder of the Milken Family Foundation
Peter Reiling, executive vice president for leadership and policy programs for the Aspen Institute
Jane Wales, President & CEO, World Affairs Council of Northern California and Founder, Global Philanthropy Forum
 

Past summer Philanthropy Seminar locations:

2007 - Meadowood Napa Valley, St. Helena, CA Download the seminar agenda

2006 - Aspen Meadows Conference Center, Aspen, CO