Futures School: Executive Leadership Programme
The Futures School: Executive Leadership Programme is a comprehensive initiative designed for senior leaders in philanthropic organisations to raise their ambition and make progress in the face of uncertainty.
The Futures School: Executive Leadership Programme focuses on organisational transformation and invites executive teams and individuals working on a real-life challenge and gives a platform to leaders who are on a transformation journey and are eager to grow, learn, exchange and connect as people and professionals.
The leaders selected for this programme will receive support from Philea, its partners Bikubenfonden, CIFS, Famtastisch Stiftung, Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, Kamel Lazaar Foundation, and Stiftung Mercator Schweiz and the wider Philea community to bolster their anticipatory capacity, strategic decision-making and ability to evaluate risk and drive progress on issues related to climate and biodiversity, technology, democracy and the just transition.
Why join the Futures School: Executive Leadership Programme?
The attention of most funders is to crisis response. Societal shifts are increasingly complex and interconnected, necessitating innovative approaches and collaboration. Leaders are facing a great deal of uncertainty how to deal with these shifts and prioritise finite resources, when demands are rising, and it is not easy to make a choice. Leaders need to focus on anticipation and laying the ground for addressing risks before they become the next big crises.
The Futures School: Executive Leadership Programme equips philanthropy leaders with foresight skills, strategic decision-making tools, and a Europe-wide network to navigate uncertainty and drive long-term impact.
Who should apply?
This programme is for senior leaders in philanthropy, including:
- CEOs, board chairs, members and trustees
- Chief financial, operations and investment officers
- Chiefs of staff, strategy and programme directors
- Directors of communications and foresight leaders
We welcome individual leaders and executive teams working on real-life challenges.
What you’ll gain:
- Master foresight and futures thinking and learn to apply methodologies such as Horizon Scanning, Weak Signals and Wild Cards, Megatrends and Drivers of Change and identify the most critical uncertainties
- Understand systems practice and connect to strategy and your organisation’s work
- Strengthen capacity for innovation in philanthropy practice and governance
- Work on a real challenge and get guidance through case clinics with peers
- Experience transformative convening by embracing art for humanity approach and food as the basis for dialogue
- Expand your network and connect with cutting-edge philanthropy leaders, become Futures Philanthropy alumni
Programme details:
- Duration: 10 months
- Format: Two in-person gatherings, complemented by additional online modules
- Dates and Locations:
20-24 October 2025, in Copenhagen, Denmark with Bikubenfonden,
20-24 April 2026, in Tilal Utique, Tunisia with the Kamel Lazaar Foundation - Cost: €4,500 per participant for Philea members. €6,500 for non-members. Discounts for additional team members. Further costs related to travel and accommodation. Limited number of scholarships is available to leaders representing small networks, philanthropy infrastructure organisations and non-profits.
About
Futures School is a bold and ambitious step into a new field of creating and sharing foresight and futures thinking skills to support long-term impact and systemic change in philanthropy and civil society. It consists of two elements, the Executive Leadership Programme for teams and the Sandbox for early-career professionals.
Partners
- Bikubenfonden
- Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies
- Famtastisch Stiftung
- Hans Wilsdorf Foundation
- Kamel Lazaar Foundation
- Stiftung Mercator Schweiz
Contacts
