Venue
Saalgebäude St. Alban‑Vorstadt 12 (4052 Basel) is a bright 350 m² event space tucked away in the courtyard of the CMS Foundation's headquarters. Formerly the Vorstadttheater (a neighbourhood theatre), the hall was completely re‑imagined by Basel design studio Bravo Ricky following circular‑economy principles: up‑cycled furnishings, generous windows that open onto a leafy courtyard, and warm lighting now create an inviting setting for our workshop.
More information and pictures of the venue
Programme – at a glance
Monday, 22 September 2025
- 08:30–09:00 Registration & Welcome coffee
- 09:00–09:10 Official welcome
- 09:10–10:10 Keynote 1 – Prof. Dr. Pamala Wiepking
Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University & VU Amsterdam - 10:10–10:30 Coffee break
- 10:30–12:00 Session A
- 12:00–13:30 Lunch
- 13:30–15:00 Session B
- 15:00–15:15 Stretch break
- 15:15–15:55 Session C
- 15:55–16:15 Coffee break
- 16:15–18:00 Session D
- 19:30 Workshop dinner at Cantina Don Camillo
Burgweg 7, 4058 Basel
Tuesday, 23 September 2025
- 09:00–10:00 Keynote 2 – Prof. Dr. Peter Frumkin
Gradel Institute of Charity, New College, Oxford University & University of Pennsylvania - 10:00–10:30 Coffee break
- 10:30–12:00 Session E
- 12:00–13:30 Lunch
- 13:30–14:30 Session F
- 14:30–15:00 Concluding dialogue, evaluation & farewell
- from 15:00 Departures
Full Programme & Presentations
| Presentation Title | Authors (Presenter in Bold) | Affiliations |
|---|---|---|
| Keynote 1 – Monday 09:10–10:10 | ||
| Prof. Dr. Pamala Wiepking | Pamala Wiepking | Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University & VU Amsterdam |
| Session A – Power, Equity & Organisational Dynamics in Global Philanthropy Monday 10:30–12:00 |
||
| Women, Social Capital and Local Philanthropy | Thandi Makhubele | University of Witwatersrand |
| When Charities Leave: Country-Level Patterns of UK Overseas Charity Presence, Withdrawal, and Adaptation | Diarmuid McDonnell; Dominik Meier | University of the West of Scotland; Center for Philanthropy Studies (CEPS), University of Basel |
| What Influences Private-Foundation Grant-Making Decisions? | Sarah Rank; Cassandra Chapman; Cameron Parsell | The University of Queensland |
| Volunteers vs Paid Staff: Exploring the Global Dynamics of Role Substitution | Philine van Overbeeke; Dominik Meier; Lucas Meijs; Sara Compion; Ram Cnaan | Gradel Institute of Charity, New College, University of Oxford; Center for Philanthropy Studies (CEPS), University of Basel; Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University; Kean University; University of Pennsylvania |
| Session B – Foundations & Global Legitimacy in Turbulent Times Monday 13:30–15:00 |
||
| Global Philanthropy and United Nations System in the Era of Global Turbulences | Anita Budziszewska | University of Warsaw and Geneva Graduate Institute |
| "Whose Foundation?" The Contested Terrain of Artist-Led Philanthropy in Contemporary Africa | Joseph Gaylard | Independent Researcher |
| Building a Resilient and Equitable Philanthropic Ecosystem in Central America | Doménica Chévez | Focus Central America Foundation |
| Foundations and Legitimacy | Stefan Toepler; Tamaki Onishi | George Mason University; UNC Greensboro |
| Session C – Digital Frontiers & Ethical Engagement in Fund‑Raising Monday 15:15–15:55 |
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| Strength- vs Need-Based Imagery: An Ethical Dilemma for Fund-Raisers | Cassandra Chapman; Aimee Smith; Matthew Hornsey; Roland Bleiker; Emma Hutchison | The University of Queensland |
| Non-Profit Organisations and Face-to-Face Fund-Raising | Tayyeb Hadi; Tine De Bock; Tine Faseur; Siegfried Dewitte | Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) |
| Session D – Financing Global Impact: Accountability, Risk & Opportunity Monday 16:15–18:00 |
||
| De-biasing Philanthropy: Investment and the Governance of Perpetuity | Lina Ochoa Carreño | CIVANCE Research |
| Friends and Benefits: Reconciling Fund-Raising Practice with the Benefits Theory of Non-profit Finance | Elizabeth Searing | University of Texas at Dallas |
| Philanthropy-Driven Corruption Risks: A Governance Analysis of Foundation-Funded Government Projects | Irakli Petriashvili | The University of Georgia |
| Unexpected Opportunities: Philanthropic Windfalls and Their Impact on Organisations and Communities | Ryne Crout Jones | University of North Carolina Wilmington |
| Keynote 2 – Tuesday 09:00–10:00 | ||
| Prof. Dr. Peter Frumkin | Peter Frumkin | Gradel Institute of Charity, New College, Oxford University & University of Pennsylvania |
| Session E – Catalysing Global Development: Philanthropic Leadership & Systems Change Tuesday 10:30–12:00 |
||
| How Do Philanthropic Foundations Serve as Leaders for International Development? | Kinga Zsófia Horváth; Omar Hussein | Center for Philanthropy Studies (CEPS), University of Basel |
| Leveraging High-Impact Programmes: Philanthropy as a Catalyst for Systemic Development Outcomes | Faycal Boureima; Stephanie Nichols; Philippe Dongier | CECI |
| The Allure of "Africapitalism": Exploring Philanthropy, Funding and Influence in the African Context | Shonali Banerjee | University of Warwick, UK |
| Trends in Cross-Border Philanthropy: U.S. Foundation Giving to Non-profits in Mexico | Tania Hernandez | Civance Research |
| Session F – Philanthropy in and for Crises Tuesday 13:30–14:10 |
||
| Philanthropy during Social-Support Mobilisation and Deterioration | Iwona Nowakowska | Maria Grzegorzewska University |
Travel information
Basel ⇄ Heidelberg – seamless connection to ERNOP 2025
The workshop finishes just in time to catch an afternoon train to Heidelberg for the 12th International Research Conference of the European Research Network on Philanthropy (ERNOP) taking place on 25–26 September 2025. Typical Deutsche Bahn (DB) connections on Tue 23 September 2025:
| Departure Basel SBB | Arrival Heidelberg Hbf | Duration | Changes | Saver fare from* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:38 | 18:23 | 2 h 45 min | 1 | € 38.99 |
| 16:13 | 18:45 | 2 h 32 min | 1 | € 33.99 |
| 17:07 | 19:34 | 2 h 27 min | 1 | € 35.99 |
*Prices are 2nd‑class "Sparpreis Europa" samples (as of July 2025) and subject to availability. Check bahn.com for live fares and seat reservations.
Getting to the venue
- From Basel SBB main station: Tram 3 (direction "Burgfelden Grenze") to stop "Bankverein", then walk ~5 min down St. Alban‑Vorstadt.
- From EuroAirport Basel‑Mulhouse‑Freiburg: Bus 50 to Basel SBB, then as above (total ~30 min).
Accommodation & BaselCard
The University of Basel has negotiated corporate rates with a range of hotels and hostels (CHF, single use, breakfast incl.). A few examples:
- Budget & Hostels
Basel Youth Hostel – 52 CHF (dorm) / 115 CHF (private)
Hostel SILO – 60 CHF (dorm) / 170 CHF (double) - Mid‑range hotels
B&B Hotel Basel – from 95 CHF
Hyperion Hotel – from 133 CHF
Hotel Odelya – from 139 CHF - Premium options
Krafft Basel – from 170 CHF
Nomad Design & Lifestyle – from 180 CHF
Mövenpick Basel – from 250 CHF
Download the full corporate‑rate overview (PDF)
BaselCard – free public transport & 50 % discounts
Every overnight stay in Basel (hotel, B&B, hostel, apartment) includes a free BaselCard. It grants:
- Unlimited free rides on the city's buses & trams
- 50 % discount on numerous attractions (museums, zoo, etc.)
The BaselCard is handed out automatically at check‑in; your booking confirmation already serves as a ticket for the journey from the airport or station to your accommodation. More on the BaselCard