Innovation & Learning at the Global Philanthropy Forum Annual Conference: LIVE Today-Weds.

[TRASI]

What's the intersection where new philanthropy meets old? Jane Wales, vice president, Philanthropy and Society, of the Aspen Institute, and Founding CEO of the Global Philanthropy Forum, posits that innovation and learning make up this intersection in this Huffington Post article. Reflecting on the roles of Rockefeller and Carnegie in establishing organized philanthropy, she makes a salient point: "Perhaps their most powerful legacy was that commitment to continuous learning." 

Jane goes on to highlight four topics at the forefront of this week's Global Philanthropy Forum annual conference:

• When "Shared Value" Meets Africapitalism
• When Politics Meet Practical Solutions
• When Grant Dollars Meet Investment Capital
• When Smart People Meet Hard Truths

Jane herself will be leading a conversation on Innovation in Philanthropy today at 4pm EDT. According to the GPF's online agenda, this will cover how: "Transparency, accountability and competence are essential to governance. And each has shot to the top of the public agenda wherever citizens demand that government provide public goods both reliably and equitably. What are the new ways in which the philanthropic sector can play a transforming role in promoting good governance? How can we encourage, strengthen and fulfill this role for philanthropy?"

 

We will be following along via live-stream here and also via twitter using #GPF2012. Wednesday's morning session at 9am EDT has especially caught our eye, since it will address monitoring and evaluation practices and measuring social impact. Entitled "How to Do What We Do---Only Better: The Role for Evidence," speakers will include thought leaders from Ford Foundation, The World Bank, and UNICEF. We are especially looking forward to learning about "the ways in which evidence has led to changes in their organization’s strategy."

 

We encourage you to tune in. Here's to cultivating important conversations and a culture of mutual learning!