EFC postpones AGA and Conference to help minimise spread and impact of COVID-19

The EFC has taken the difficult decision to postpone its 31st AGA and Conference, which was due to take place in Vienna from 20-22 May with the theme “Foundations and the new normal – How to innovate philanthropy?”. The decision was taken with the support of the EFC’s Management Committee and Conference Committee.

The safety of our delegates is of course of paramount importance, but we are also keen to ensure that we play our part in the global effort to help contain the spread of the virus. Radical prevention is most effective now, before the summer, to avoid a worsening of the situation. We feel strongly that acting swiftly and decisively now, albeit with heavy hearts, is the smartest and most responsible thing to do to make sure we have played our part in trying to restrict the impact of COVID-19.

The decision has been made as early as possible to try to limit inconvenience and costs to those of you who were planning to book travel and accommodation, or may have been weighing up your own decision on whether to attend the event in Vienna. For those of you who have registered for the conference we will process conference fee refunds in the coming days; we would also like to remind you to cancel accommodation and flights.

We are currently assessing all possible contingency options, which include necessary governance and statutory meetings taking place virtually (these will take place in May this year and details will be shared in due course) and likely holding the conference in Vienna in 2021. We will of course keep you informed of any decisions as and when we are able to do so. We would also like to take the opportunity to thank ERSTE Stiftung and all those who have worked tirelessly on the design and organisation of the conference.

Please keep an eye on our latest announcements and updates via our website and social media. In turn, we are collecting information on how EFC members are dealing with the COVID-19 situation, if you have any information you would like to share please do so via this survey.