Do private foundations need to be more accountable to the public? If so, what form should that accountability take? How can foundation transparency, accountability, and performance increase without unduly limiting the freedom of foundations to choose and pursue their objectives as they see fit? A debate on the issues.

Moderator: Tim Brodhead, J. W. McConnell Family Foundation

Presenters: Prof. Joel Fleishman, Duke University; Luc Tayart de Borms, King Baudouin Foundation

Private philanthropy is a growing phenomenon around the world as wealth and donor engagement both steadily increase. But it can take very different forms depending on local philanthropic culture and political/regulatory frameworks. This session will feature a discussion of the similarities and differences in foundation philanthropy outside Canada.

Moderator: Patrick Johnston, Walter & Duncan Gordon Foundation

Presenters: Gerry Salole, European Foundation Centre; Khalil Shariff, Aga Khan  Foundation; Monica Patten, Community Foundations of Canada

This session will focus on the relationship between researchers, funders and communities. How do you address the challenge of matching funder and researcher goals to bring about mutually acceptable projects? How do you ensure that research outcomes have direct impact on identified community needs?

Moderator: Peter Warrian, Lupina Foundation

Presenters: Pierre Gerlier Forest, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation; Jody Heymann, McGill Institute for Health and Social Policy

The passions of an engaged donor clearly shape the work and mission of his or her foundation. How to find the fine balance between individual drives and organizational needs? This session will feature donors talking about how they use the dynamic of a foundation to support their personal philanthropic passions.

Co-Moderators: Nan-b de Gaspé Beaubien, de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation

Presenters: Philippe de Gaspé Beaubien, de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation; Carol Newell, Endswell Foundation; Stephen R. Bronfman, Stephen R. Bronfman Family Foundation

Failure. The very word induces discomfort and the urge to seek cover. But does the concept of failure have a different connotation in the world of foundations? While it may be decidedly more comfortable to fund safe projects with modest goals, is this the best path for private philanthropy? Or should we be flexing our freedom by pursuing more audacious solutions to societal problems, even though this brings greater risk and inevitably more failures? Some foundation leaders expect, even demand, grant failures, interpreting these as the true cost and indicator of innovation. How can funders make a case for "smart" failures, and how can we turn these into rich learning experiences? Our three experienced panelists will bring their insights and expertise to this timely and complex issue.

Moderator: Shelley Uytterhagen, Carthy Foundation

Presenters: Charles Pascal, Atkinson Foundation; Bob Wyatt, Muttart; Prof Joel Fleishman, Duke University

What are some of the issues for funders in identifying and supporting the drivers of social change? How do foundations work, partner, and mentor successfully with independent social entrepreneurs? What happens when the idea becomes reality or when the change model crosses between charity and for-profit worlds? How do funders enable critical success factors like financial sustainability strategies? When to quit and when to stay in? When to go alone or when to act in concert with other funders? A session on the challenges of catalysing and sustaining social innovation, featuring stories of Canadian foundations and social innovation.

Moderator: Katharine Pearson, J.W. McConnell Family Foundation

Presenters: Prof Frances Westley, University of Waterloo; Tim Draimin, Tides Canada; Sidney Ribaux, Equiterre

In many large urban areas in Canada, funders are experimenting with approaches to the reduction of poverty through neighbourhood revitalization, or comprehensive community action working with specific groups such as immigrants or young school leavers. This session will discuss some of the successes and some of the impediments to solving poverty through such approaches.

Moderator: Tim Brodhead, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation

Presenters: Carolyn Milne, Hamilton Community Foundation; Lyse Brunet, Centraide Montréal; Bharat Mehta, City Parochial Foundation

Across Canada, communities on aboriginal reserve and in northern locations face staggering rates of poverty and social dysfunction. These communities may present the most intractable but also most compelling cases for philanthropic intervention. How can foundations become more effectively engaged with community leaders to bring about sustainable improvements in the quality of life in these remote communities?

Moderator: Stephen Huddart, J.W. McConnell Family Foundation

Presenters: James Stauch, Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, Cindy Blackstock, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada; Wayne Helgason, Social Planning Council of Winnipeg

Canada and the United Kingdom share a history and common law tradition with respect to the definition and regulation of charity. But the two countries have grown increasingly different in their treatment of charity, for constitutional and policy reasons. Two experts from the regulators of charities in each country, the Canada Revenue Agency and the Charities Commission for England and Wales, will speak about the evolution and framework for regulating charities, including foundations, in each country and discuss future trends.

Moderator: Mike Kray, Mike Weir Foundation

Presenters: Terry de March, Canada Revenue Agency; Lindsay Driscoll, Charities Commission for England and Wales

Should a foundation use more of its assets to support its charitable mission, by making socially responsible investments, by becoming active as a shareholder or by moving even more proactively into making loans from its endowment? This session will feature a discussion among advisors, observers and players about the options and impact of socially- responsible investment strategies.

Moderator: Robert Alain, EJLB Foundation

Presenters: Michael Jantzi, Jantzi Research Associates; Megan Campbell, Community Foundations of Canada; John Prendergast, The Community Trust of Southland, Bill Young, Bealight Foundation

The federal Accountability Act and changes to the conditions for accessing federal funding are setting new restrictions on charities who wish to pursue policy development or advocacy. This session will highlight the federal rules and their consequences for foundations interested in supporting public policy change.

Moderator: Bruce Lourie, Ivey Foundation

Presenters: Sean Moore; Rick Smith, Environmental Defence

Are boards of foundations the key players in deciding on the strategies and approaches to effective grantmaking? Many boards search for the balance between governing and managing and between policies and practices. How effective are they? The session will feature stories from long established foundations that have put into place promising approaches to effective board involvement.

Moderator: Nathan Gilbert, Laidlaw Foundation

Presenters: L. Robin Cardozo, Ontario Trillium Foundation; Joy Calkin, Muttart Foundation; Norman Webster, R. Howard Webster Foundation

As families grow, change and possibly disperse over distances, the challenges of engaging and promoting the next generation of philanthropists in the work of a family foundation grow larger. This session will focus on the different experiences, values and interests of each generation and will help participants understand and implement some strategies for communicating across generations and about involving younger family members in philanthropy.

Moderator: Nancy Rosenfeld, Stephen R. Bronfman Family Foundation

Presenters: Jonathan Wood, The Lawson Foundation, Denise Paré Julien, de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation; James Good, The Good Foundation Inc.

Private foundations have not typically placed a high value on communicating about their philanthropy or sharing their stories with a wider audience. But as the importance grows of sharing acquired knowledge, seeking out appropriate partners and creating models for more private philanthropy in Canada, the need for strategic communication increases. This session will feature examples of successful communication and its impact, and provide some strategies to be shared with others.

Moderator: Shira Herzog, The Kahanoff Foundation

Presenters: Philip Haid, Laidlaw Foundation; Bruce Trachtenberg, The Communications Network (U.S.)