Philea Forum 2026: Philanthropy for People and Planet

The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the way we live. All elements critical to the current and future health and harmony of this, our only planet, and the people, flora and fauna depending on it. The oceans, the rainforests, the deserts, the towns and the cities. Where we live, and how we live, has never been more important.

The Philea Forum 2026 convened a global gathering of delegates to inspire open discussions on:

Carefully navigating the many cycle lanes on the way to the venue for this year’s Philea Forum, I was struck by the thought that Copenhagen – with its long history of taking a lead on environmental issues – was a perfect place for a discussion about “philanthropy, people and planet” at the leading annual gathering of European foundations. 

From experience, I know that this event always offers a vital snapshot of what is going on in philanthropy across Europe. It has, however, been a few years since I attended a Philea Forum, so I was really pleased to do so in my new role as Director of Philanthropy Knowledge at Alliance, and to get the chance to hear from foundation and civil society leaders about what they are thinking and doing; and to get a sense of the current mood music in European philanthropy. Read more…

It’s the first time the African Climate Foundation has had a presence at Philea Forum, Europe’s annual gathering of European philanthropy professionals. This year, some 800 participants are in attendance, and the executive director of the six-year-old African Climate Foundation is amongst them to try to get a message across to Europe: work with us.

Alliance caught up with Saliem Fakir ahead of a panel he spoke on about reimagining philanthropy’s role in Africa’s just transition. Read more…

We asked our readers which session at Philea Forum 2026 they would most like to read about.  

Given the shifting geopolitical landscape and increasing pressure on civil society organisations across Europe, the chosen session was the much anticipated; ‘Too political, or too lukewarm: What’s the cost of neutrality?’, hosted on the second day on the conference. Read more…

A week after leaving the Philea Forum in Copenhagen and coming back to Madrid, I’m writing this in the middle of the first heatwave of the 2026 European summer. They seem to come earlier each year.

This year’s Philea Forum was held under the theme “Philanthropy for People and Planet.” At a moment when politicians across the world are gaslighting us into believing there is no such thing as a climate emergency — and that we have bigger fish to fry than tackling emissions — the gathering was a timely reminder of what we are actually facing, and of why our sector exists. Read more…

I had the honour of speaking on the CEO panel in the final plenary of the Philea forum, where I was able to reflect on the contributions of everyone who joined us that week. The forum wasn’t just energising, it reinforced our commitment that collective action is essential to protect civil society, democracy, and the planet. Spending time with committed colleagues at the Tivoli Conference Centre in Copenhagen, I was reminded of the Danish proverb Mange bække små gør en stor å, which translates into “Many small streams make a large river.” This beautiful metaphor captures the essence of collective philanthropy and civic action: small, sustained contributions can build powerful currents for change. Read more…

Gathering in philanthropic spaces is a reminder that there are so many of us, everywhere, who care deeply about the same things: equality, justice, and systemic change. In the various side events and conversations during the Philea Forum in Copenhagen last week, we were asking ourselves one question: how can philanthropy step up to address the crises we are facing today? While the Forum served as a critical space for dialogue and collaboration between European foundations, many of these discussions still reflected a siloed approach to the interconnected challenges of climate breakdown, democratic backsliding and rising armed conflict. And yet as Joshua Amponsem from the Youth Climate Justice Fund stated in the opening plenary: this moment is not only a crisis but also an invitation. Read more…

Arnab Dewan, International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)

“The past is always in front of us and the future is behind us.” These words were shared by Andrea Ixchíu, a Maya K’iche’ Indigenous Rights Defender from Guatemala, at the session on “Alternative futures: Dilemmas and pathways forward.” Her community’s traditions of cooperation and generational care of the forests allow them to face the future. Rather than keeping their past in a museum, they use it as a compass to guide their next destination. 

As a first-time attendee of the Forum, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. As a non-member, I felt like a bit of an outsider looking in. Philanthropy conferences can often feel transactional with countless discussions about filling gaps and correcting market failures. While these are important metrics, I think these events should highlight how we can build true partnerships. But as the opening plenary unfolded, it became clear that the Philea Forum 2026 was challenging us to embrace discomfort. Read more…

Rana Tutcuoğlu, philanthropy advisor and former Secretary General of TUSEV

The Philea Forum 2026 focused on the urgency of climate action for human and planet.  

Democratic decline, shrinking civic space, polarization, wars, economic uncertainty… all of this makes long-term thinking difficult. When everything feels urgent and overwhelming, imagining the future itself can start to feel naïve. 

But maybe the real risk is losing our ability to imagine possibility together. Read more…

At Philea Forum 2026 in Copenhagen, I joined a panel called Old tactics won’t cut it: how to win hearts in a new media landscape.  Old tactics won’t cut it.  The problem is not broken comms.