Twenty years ago, Russian Donors Forum held its first conference, with one of the discussion topics being “Philanthropy in Russia – a new reality”. Since then the sector has undergone a significant transformation: the number of private, corporate, fundraising and local community funds has increased, corporate social responsibility and sustainable development programs are becoming an integral part of business activities, and the philanthropy sector has become significantly more professionalized. 

At the same time, just like 20 years ago, in 2022 Russian society in general and the sector of philanthropy and social investment in particular once again found themselves in the “new reality”. However, the context has changed significantly: organizations now have experience in responding to crises, building their own resilience and securing the support of their employees, partners and communities. 

As part of the opening session of the XX Conference, Russian Donors Forum will share its observations on how funds and companies are adapting to the new reality (the results of a report on the state and development of the donor community will be presented), and the experts of the sector will share their vision of the following issues:

• How has the philanthropy and social investment sector changed over the past 20 years?
• How is the experience gained helping the sector to remain resilient and relevant to adapt to current challenges? 
• What priorities do charitable organizations and socially responsible businesses see for themselves at the national and regional levels? 

In partnership with the MTS company

The socially responsible business has found itself in a new reality, under which it is beginning to adapt its strategies for investing in the development of society and territories of presence. How this transformation is happening: how the program portfolio, the transparency regime and the circle of stakeholders are changing - the heads of the largest socially responsible companies, CSR, ESG and sustainable development departments will share the strategies and tactics of adaptation

- Social investment-2022: Have motives, orientations, and values altered? How does this affect the changing focus and expectations of stakeholders? Which social investment strategies are preferable?
- How do we keep all stakeholders and, above all, shareholders interested in the preservation and importance of social investment in a time of volatility and stress?
- How is "sustainability" defined in the new reality? What can provide it?
- What role does social work with employees play in the new realities?
- An important role in social investment was played by international companies and their representative offices in the Russian Federation. What should be done so that with their departure we do not lose either highly qualified personnel or practice?
- Will the role of education as an engine for sustainable development and social entrepreneurship change?

Смотреть трансляцию сессии

The business agenda of recent years has been constructed around the ESG triad - environmental, social and corporate governance issues. Many Russian companies have reached a high level of maturity in integrating sustainability principles, including in their charitable programs. Recently, however, discussions around this concept have been heating up more and more, both in Russia and abroad. The February crisis launched a discussion about the future of both ESG and social investment in Russia in the new realities. 

- What does the future hold for social investment in Russia? 
- What does the intensified discussion around ESG tell us? 
- What could be the guidelines for socially responsible companies in the case of abandoning the triad? 

To participate please register separately for the training. The registration link is available in the conference registration confirmation letter. 

"Mikhailov & Partners, a leading strategic communications consultancy in Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe, will hold a training session on crisis communications for the participants of the Donors Forum Annual Conference. We will talk about why systematic work on reputation in the public field is so important for companies, what channels can and should be used to build corporate reputation, how to behave at different stages of reputational crisis and what you should not do. We will discuss several real cases of corporate crises and, of course, we will work on the acquired knowledge in practice.

International session, simultaneous translation provided

The professionalization of the sector inevitably entails a conversation on the importance of relying on data. The strategy session will bring together representatives of foundations and companies that commission research and conduct their own, as well as those who provide research services, and consider their real approaches to working with data. 

- Why and when do donors turn to research? What information do they lack? 
- How do they use the data and build their activities around it? 
- Collaborative Research and Data Sharing: Are Research Partnerships Necessary?

Since the beginning of the new millennium, society has been continuously transformed by the changing conditions of the quality and way of human life. Combined with the process of search and transition to a new point of harmony, crises vividly emphasize problematic places that require special attention and transformation. One of these indicators is the health and well-being of the working population. The pandemic of coronavirus infection served not just as a signal, but as a siren, which gives "the last warning" to business about the need to find a new model of the existing system for preserving employee health. The solution to this problem correlates both with global health challenges - increasing life expectancy and health protection - and with Russia's national development goals up to 2030 - population preservation, health and well-being of people.

At the event, representatives of public authorities, subject matter experts and representatives of the corporate sector will discuss promising directions for preserving the health and well-being of the working population in the context of global challenges. Particular attention will be paid to real cases and practices of private companies in preserving and restoring employees' health, as well as the analysis and application of accumulated experience in the field of prevention and health promotion in the context of changing living conditions.

Discussion topics:

- Presentation of the results of the study "Corporate Workplace Health Promotion Practices Before the Pandemic;
- Restructuring corporate infrastructures in the face of new types of challenges;
- Approaches to prevention and management of employee health during crisis situations;
- The Way of Cooperation: Combining the Efforts of the State and the Corporate Sector in Preserving the Health and Well-Being of the Working Population.

In partnership with the "Contribution to the Future" Charity Fund

In 2010-2020 Russia's human capital development index was on the rise, but the recent series of crises are not only threatening the further growth, but also jeopardize the progress already made. Human capital development and creating new opportunities for people are the focus of many donors. From developing the potential of employees to creating systemic change in local communities, from advocating children’s right to quality education to supporting the healthcare sector. Human capital development requires an unprecedented combination of efforts of the donor community, government authorities and the non-profit sector, but how to ensure effective partnerships in times of turbulence, how to build long-term programs and minimize risks?

• What are the key challenges the Russian society is facing in human capital development, and how to ensure the harmonious interaction of various sectors when working on challenges?
• What is the role of the philanthropic sector?
• How to minimize risks to build effective partnerships?