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European Foundation Centre (EFC)

Headquarters:

Rue Royale 94, 1000
Location:

Brussels, Belgium
Status:

Defunct
Formation:

1989
Type:

Foreign Nonprofit
Executive Director:

Delphine Moralis

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European Foundation Centre (EFC) was an international membership association of foundations and corporate funders across Europe. 1

Founded by seven major European philanthropic foundations in 1989, EFC ceased to exist as an independent entity when it merged with Donors and Foundations Network in Europe (Dafne) in 2021 to become Philea. 2 Between 2020 and 2019, European Foundation Centre received $200,000 in grants from the left-of-center John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. 3

History and Leadership

European Foundation Centre was founded in Brussels, Belgium on November 9, 1989, 4 by seven major European philanthropies: Charities Aid Foundation, European Cultural Foundation, Fondation de France, Fundação Oriente, Juliana Welzijn Fonds, King Baudouin Foundation, and Stiferverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft. 5

In 2021, EFC merged with Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe (Dafne) to become Philea. EFC ceased existing as an independent entity following the merger with Dafne. 6

Delphine Moralis was the final CEO of EFC. 7

Activities and Funding

European Foundation Centre was an international membership association of foundations and corporate funders across Europe. EFC included more than 200 members when it merged with Donors and Foundations Networks in Europe (Dafne) in 2021. 8

EFC membership was open to European foundations, corporate funders, and global funders with European interests. 9 During its existence, at least 24 percent of EFC’s members were from outside of Europe at various points. 10

EFC worked with its partners to monitor and engage with European institutions by maintaining close contacts with the European Commission (EC), the executive arm of the European Union. EFC was considered a “first point of reference for matters relating to foundations and grant-giving” by the EC. 11 EFC also supported the European Foundation Project, which was an unsuccessful attempt to create a legal framework for non-profit foundations across the EU. 12

In 2021, EFC released a report with the Fondazione Charlemagne regarding funding for what the organization calls “climate change mitigation.” 13 EFC has supported the left-of-center concept of sustainable cities through the Funders’ Forum on Sustainable Cities (FFSC), 14 wrote a report with the Council on Foundations regarding principles of accountability for international philanthropy, 15 and sponsored the International Fellowship Program, which supported staff of European foundations as they improved management and leadership. 16

EFC promoted “seven practices” of good philanthropy which included compliance, governance, informed policies, operations and support programs, stewardship and management of finances, communications, monitoring, and cooperation. 17 The organization also analyzed environmentalist philanthropic spending in Europe, 18 published the Effect magazine discussing foundations and corporate funding activities in Europe, 19 and was listed as a philanthropic resource for donors by the left-of-center Ford Foundation. 20

Funding

European Foundation Centre received $200,000 in grants from the left-of-center John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation between 2020 and 2019. 21 In 2018, EFC received $250,000 from the left-of-center Ford Foundation. 22

In 2017, EFC received $430,000 from the left-of-center Ford Foundation 23 and $5,458 from the left-of-center Rockefeller Foundation. 24 EFC received $230,000 of grants from the left-of-center Charles Stuart Mott Foundation in 2016. 25 EFC also received $95,000 grants from the left-of-center Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2015 26 and 2013. 27

Between 1991 and 2004, the Atlantic Philanthropies contributed $2,360,762 to the EFC. These grants included contributions of $224,481 to establish a left-of-center social justice funder network in Europe and $217,820 to promote left-of-center social justice issues in Europe. 28 EFC also received a $150,000 grant from the left-of-center W.K. Kellogg Foundation. 29

References

  1. “European Foundation Centre.” Council on Foundations. Accessed November 9, 2022. https://cof.org/organization/european-foundation-centre.
  2. [1] “Dafne, EFC become one organsation: Philea.” Alliance Magazine. December 7, 2021. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://www.alliancemagazine.org/blog/dafne-efc-become-one-organisation-philea/.
  3. “European Foundation Centre.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://www.macfound.org/grantee/european-foundation-centre-41338/.
  4. “European Foundation Centre.” Council on Foundations. Accessed November 9, 2022. https://cof.org/organization/european-foundation-centre.
  5. Luis Amorim and Diana Leat. “Case studies of organizations supporting community foundations: European Foundation Centre (EFC), Belgium.” Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support – Community Foundations (WINGS-CF). September 2001. Accessed November 13, 2022. https://globalfundcommunityfoundations.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/case-study-european-foundation-centre-efc-belgium.pdf#:~:text=The%20European%20Foundation%20Centre%20(EFC,Stiferverband%20f%C3%BCr%20die%20Deutsche%20Wissenschaft.
  6. “Dafne, EFC become one organsation: Philea.” Alliance Magazine. December 7, 2021. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://www.alliancemagazine.org/blog/dafne-efc-become-one-organisation-philea/.
  7. Erika Roohi and Charles Keidan. “New currents: EFC Chief Executive Delphine Moralis on the sea-change in European Philanthropy.” Alliance Magazine. October 12, 2021. Accessed November 13, 2022. https://www.alliancemagazine.org/interview/efc-ceo-delphine-moralis-on-a-year-in-european-philanthropy/.
  8. “European Foundation Centre.” Council on Foundations. Accessed November 9, 2022. https://cof.org/organization/european-foundation-centre.
  9. “European Foundation Centre (EFC).” Alliance magazine. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://www.alliancemagazine.org/analysis/european-foundation-centre-efc/.
  10.  “European Foundation Centre (EFC).” The Japan Foundation – Performing Arts Network Japan. October 25, 2010. Accessed November 12, 2022. https://performingarts.jpf.go.jp/E/society/1010/1.html.
  11. “European Foundation Centre (EFC).” Alliance magazine. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://www.alliancemagazine.org/analysis/european-foundation-centre-efc/.
  12. “The European Foundation Statute.” Pour La Solidarite European Think Tank. Accessed November 13, 2022. https://www.ess-europe.eu/en/page/european-foundation-statute.
  13. “Report Launch: European Foundation Funding for Climate Change Mitigation.” Fondazione Charlemagne. October 8, 2021. Accessed November 12, 2022. https://www.fondazionecharlemagne.org/en/report-launch-european-foundation-funding-for-climate-change-mitigation/.
  14. “European Foundation Centre.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://www.macfound.org/grantee/european-foundation-centre-41338/.
  15. Principles of Accountability for International Philanthropy.” Council on Foundations. European Foundation Centre. April 2007. Accessed November 12, 2022. https://cof.org/sites/default/files/documents/files/PrinciplesAccountability%20for%20International%20Grantmaking.pdf.
  16. “European Foundation Centre (EFC).” The Japan Foundation – Performing Arts Network Japan. October 25, 2010. Accessed November 12, 2022. https://performingarts.jpf.go.jp/E/society/1010/1.html.
  17. [1] “European Foundation Centre Revises Principles of Good Practice for Foundations.” Candid Philanthropy News Digest. December 26, 2006. Accessed November 12, 2022. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/european-foundation-centre-revises-principles-of-good-practice-for-foundations.
  18. “European Foundations Awarded $610 Million for Environment in 2016.” Candid. Philanthropy News Digest. February 24, 2019. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/european-foundations-awarded-610-million-for-environment-in-2016.
  19. “European Foundation Centre (EFC).” The Japan Foundation – Performing Arts Network Japan. October 25, 2010. Accessed November 12, 2022. https://performingarts.jpf.go.jp/E/society/1010/1.html.
  20. “Other philanthropic resources.” Ford Foundation. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/other-philanthropic-resources/.
  21. “European Foundation Centre.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://www.macfound.org/grantee/european-foundation-centre-41338/.
  22. “The Ford Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2018. Part XV. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/131684331/201913199349101266/IRS990PF.
  23. “Ford Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2017. Part XV. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/131684331/201803209349100025/IRS990PF.
  24.  “The Rockefeller Foundation.” Return of a Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2017. Part XV. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/131659629/201833129349100008/IRS990PF.
  25. “Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2016. Accessed November 11, 2022. Part XV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/381211227/201743039349100209/IRS990PF.
  26. “Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.” Return of a Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2015. Part XV. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/562618866/201623169349100822/IRS990PF.
  27. “Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.” Return of a Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2013. Part XV. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/562618866/201403109349100040/IRS990PF.
  28.  “European Foundation Centre.” The Atlantic Philanthropies. Accessed November 11, 2022. https://www.atlanticphilanthropies.org/grantees/european-foundation-centre.
  29.  “European Foundation Centre.” W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Accessed November 12, 2022. https://www.wkkf.org/grants/grant/2006/01/global-fund-for-community-foundation-proposal-for-private-and-bilateral-donors-p0118999.
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