Presentation given by Maria Orejas-Chantelot from the European Foundation Centre at the FEANTSA/HABITACT seminar "Tackling homelessness as a social investment for the future: Looking at the bigger picture", 12th June 2013, Amsterdam

1. EUROPEANFOUNDATIONCENTRE
AS FACILITATOR ON THEMATICNETWORKS OF
FOUNDATIONS WORKING TOGETER ON SOCIAL ISSUES
By Maria OREJAS
FEANTSA - creating space for incubation of new ideas
12 June 2013, Amsterdam

2. EFC: a snapshot
Established in 1989, the EFC is an international
membership association of public benefit foundations
and corporate funders.
203 members plus 45 associated
organisations from 35 countries
active in more than 150 countries
• Largest representation from
Italy and 90% based in Europe
• Main focus on on Education,
Arts & Culture, Community
Development, health and a
range of other topics)

3. What Foundation means?
• Autonomous, non-profit organisations
• With their own resources
• Working locally, regionally and internationally to
improve the lives of citizens
• By running and funding activities in myriad areas!

4. Why work together?
Connect
Achieve greater impact through strategic collaboration
Gain a diversity of perspective to enrich your work
Identify and track cross-cutting issues
Learn
Access strategic resources and high-quality expertise
Contribute to building innovative learning tools
Strengthen effectiveness and capacity
Act
Engage in effective and powerful communication activities
Maximise actions to changing both public attitude and policies
strengthening the chances for long-term success
Provide rapid response to address immediate needs and emerging
opportunities within the Philanthropic sector

5. EFC Thematic Networks
• Are platforms for Foundations to build strategic
relationships, share experiences and practices, learn from
peers and collaborate on projects.
• Creates the convening space for the incubation of new
ideas and projects through funder-led networks, fora and
events
 In times of financial crisis, what better way to increase
your impact than through collaboration?

6. Current Thematic Networks
• Children and youth
• Communications
• Disability
• Diversity
• Environment
• Global
• Grant makers East Forum
• Investment
• Learning for well-being
• Research
• Roma

7. League of Historical and Accessible Cities
A pilot project implemented in 2011 by 11 foundations in 6
European cities (Avila, Lucca, Mulhouse, Turin, Viborg, Sozopol):
 To Improve accessibility of historical towns and promote sustainable
tourism for all
 To Inspire other entities and being an hub to exchange good
practices and know-out
Implementing a full accessible itinerary in the city center.
Accessible for all: monuments, museums, hotels, shops,
restaurants, training courses, technology to ensure leisure and
cultural experience
Common strategy and open perspective, space for creativity and
innovation at the local level
Holistic concept following the principles of universal accessibility

8. LHAC – Some InnovativeAspects
It stimulated new forms of collaboration at local and national level,
creating new forms of interactions
It focuses on the beneficiaries, constantly involved through their
representative associations
It is based on a philosophy that believes in the strength of mutual
learning as a way to overcome difficulties. The network acts as a hub
for good practice and know-how exchange among the foundations
and the cities involved in the project.
A holistic methodology ensures that all aspects of accessibility are
simultaneously faced and considered.
It is an open platform, encouraging the participants to find the
approach best suited to the city of their choice. This enables to create
customized and local-based solutions rather than global solutions
It puts forward innovative accessibility solutions that can also be
disseminated and transferred to different contexts.

9. League of Historical and Accessible Cities
• 11 Foundations
• 6 Historical cities
• 1 Technical Consultant on Accessibility
• 50 NGOs and Associations
• 30 Accessibility experts, urban planning experts, etc.
• The entire itinerary is 15 km in total
• Investments for 8.000.000 Euros
• 84 organizations involved
• 209 Tourism offices and accessible touristic structures
• 90 Places of historical interest, museums, monuments, churches
• 66 Public Urban Spaces (gardens, parks, squares, markets, etc.)
• 62 Public Buildings (libraries, schools, theatres, banks, post offices,
etc.)
• 4 Training Courses
• 14 Innovative Technology Tools (smart-cane, audio guides, cyber
walk, tactile maps, etc.)

10. For further information, visit our
web-site:
www.efc.be
or contact
MARÍAOREJAS
morejas@efc.be
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!