The economic crisis has undermined welfare conditions, which in the past were traditionally largely “delegated” to the State and public bodies. Building more effective and efficient models is the challenge launched by “venture philanthropy,” which is also attracting the attention of Foundations and the Third Sector.
Many foundations are changing their operating models by focusing on professional skills and entrepreneurial approaches capable of offering economically sustainable and socially responsible tools and solutions.
Bergamo, November 19, 2016 – Today in Bergamo, the 2016 Conference of the Fondazione Cav. Lav. Carlo Pesenti was held, titled “Investire nell’utile. Le nuove frontiere del welfare “.
Italians, good people? The reflection promoted by Fondazione Pesenti’s annual conference started from a provocation by Nando Pagnoncelli. It featured some of the main institutional representatives, academics, and leading social entrepreneurship initiatives focused on innovation and long-term sustainability.
“Bringing to the forefront the need to address the complexities of a new welfare system is not only important but urgent,” emphasized Carlo Pesenti, President of the Foundation and CEO of Italmobiliare Spa. “A shared awareness of the challenges society faces is essential.
Based on this idea, and the need to develop new cultural and financial tools, we have set the mission of our Foundation to become a vehicle for promoting and spreading a culture of innovation through the development of ideas, projects, and actions capable of creating a positive social impact.”
A new welfare model
A new welfare model that inevitably must face stringent budget constraints, recalled Elsa Fornero, full professor of economics at the University of Turin and former Minister of Labor and Social Policies.
“It is necessary to highlight the budget constraints that have imposed stricter welfare policies The public pension system is a contract between generations that in reality often ends up unbalanced, harming the younger generations. Therefore, new tools are essential to protect and safeguard the primary rights of individuals in a way that is both economically sustainable and socially just. Reforms must be explained and understood as investments. In the short term, they are sacrifices but they create expectations for improvement in the future.”
Towards Venture Philanthropy
The 2016 Fondazione Pesenti conference traced a complex path toward Venture Philanthropy, articulated in two panels. It started with an economic/institutional analysis focused on the current welfare system and the vulnerabilities caused by the crisis, followed by a debate on optimizing available resources through high professional and managerial skills without compromising the goal of social support.
The two panels were moderated by journalists Federico Fubini and Annalisa Bruchi, while comedian Enrico Bertolino offered a unique narrative of new philanthropy—lighthearted yet strong and explicit in supporting the need for a new approach capable of combining the enthusiasm of the non-profit sector with the organization of the “yesprofit” sector.
Press Release
PROGRAM
Welcome
CARLO PESENTI, President, Fondazione Cavaliere del Lavoro Carlo Pesenti
https://youtu.be/tzWrqNIs01Q
Opening analysis
NANDO PAGNONCELLI, President and CEO, Ipsos Italy
https://youtu.be/s75k9hjWNNE
Roundtable
Moderators
FEDERICO FUBINI, Journalist and writer
ANNALISA BRUCHI, Journalist and TV host
The contributions took place over two sessions structured as follows:
FIRST PANEL
Economic/institutional opening analysis focused on the current welfare system and vulnerabilities generated by the crisis:
MARIO CALDERINI, Full Professor, Politecnico di Milano; Italian delegate to the G8 Task Force for Social Impact Finance
ELSA FORNERO, Full Professor of Economics, University of Turin; former Minister of Labor and Social Policies
IVAN LO BELLO, President of Unioncamere
LIA QUARTAPELLE, Member of Parliament, Foreign Affairs Commission; reporter for the bill on development cooperation reform
GIANNI RIOTTA, Journalist and writer
From right: Mario Calderini, Elsa Fornero, Ivan Lo Bello, Lia Quartapelle, Gianni Riotta and Federico Fubini (moderator).
Speakers
https://youtu.be/qv-Rdi3bVzA
https://youtu.be/6oJ9HTkZfmY
First Panel
https://youtu.be/CQNpN4neNfE
Closing First Panel
Contribution by ENRICO BERTOLINO, actor, comedian, and corporate trainer
An unusual narrative bridging the two sessions, aimed at capturing a broad audience on the need for continuous innovation and proposing a forward-looking approach with a new “different/light” storytelling style.
Second Panel
Debate on optimizing welfare resources using high-level professional and managerial skills, without compromising social support:
LUCIANO BALBO, President and founder of Oltre Venture
ELENA CASOLARI, Executive President Opes Impact Fund, CEO Fondazione ACRA
EMILIO CIARLO, Head of Institutional Relations, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation
GIANGI MILESI, President of Cesvi;
PAOLA PIERRI, Founder of Pierri Philanthropy Advisory, former DG of UniCredit Investment Bank
ZENO STAUB, Chief Executive Officer, Vontobel
From right: Luciano Balbo, Elena Casolari, Emilio Ciarlo, Giangi Milesi, Paola Pierri, Zeno Staub and Annalisa Bruchi (moderator).
Speakers
https://youtu.be/etqlDnRa8aw
https://youtu.be/3ie7NZDYKWM
https://youtu.be/Dia6o6rDhpg
https://youtu.be/VRtc6UR-iw4
https://youtu.be/Jd3OzWmwGHU
https://youtu.be/G4qy92zEp8c
Second Panel
https://youtu.be/aQyEAhEj7E4
Closing Institutional Speech
GIORGIO GORI, Mayor of Bergamo
https://youtu.be/jdaKUyFl2uo
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