ERNOP Conference 2027: United in Diversity – Collaborative Futures for Philanthropy

The European Research Network On Philanthropy will host the ERNOP Conference 2027 on 1-2 July in Geneva under the theme of “United in Diversity – Collaborative Futures for Philanthropy”.

Philanthropy today operates in a world defined by complexity. Global challenges, ranging from geopolitical disruption, polarization, global warming, democratic decline, erosion of social cohesion, and humanitarian crises to widening social and economic inequality, demand responses that no single actor, sector, or discipline can tackle alone. At the same time, philanthropy itself is marked by significant diversity: of motives, identities, organizational forms, geographical scales, and visions of the public good. This diversity is a source of strength, but it also creates challenges. Fragmentation can limit the ability to act collectively and can raise questions about philanthropy’s legitimacy in democratic societies.

As collaboration becomes both essential and difficult, the philanthropic landscape is changing. Philanthropic organisations increasingly work alongside governments, international organisations, NGOs, social movements, businesses, and community groups. These partnerships bring opportunities, but also raise unresolved questions: How do actors with different incentives and levels of power build trust? What forms of cooperation lead to meaningful and lasting impact? How does philanthropy’s growing involvement in public problem-solving affect perceptions of legitimacy? And how can a wide range of voices—including those historically underrepresented—be included in these efforts?

The ERNOP Conference 2027 invites scholars and practitioners to examine how collaboration is reshaping philanthropy and how diversity influences the possibilities, tensions, and outcomes of working together. We welcome contributions that explore collaboration at any level—local, national, regional, or global—and across various fields, including but not limited to health, humanitarian action, education, culture, peacebuilding, environment, migration, digital innovation, and social justice. We particularly encourage perspectives that connect technological change, system-level approaches, and the evolving role of philanthropy in society.