Focus philanthropy

«FOCUS Philanthropy» is a photo contest among foundations and socially responsible companies, launched by Russian Donors Forum in 2012. In just seven years, more than 900 photo stories were shared.

Objectives:

• Dissemination of knowledge about the work of foundations among wider audience;
• Building trust to charitable organisations and a positive image of philanthropy;
• Developing the culture of using visual communications in philanthropy

Project Participants

Foundations, socially responsible companies and volunteer movements that are involved in philanthropy work in Russia

European Day of Foundations and Donors

On 1 October 2019, we are celebrating the European Day of
Foundations and Donors to showcase the role foundations play in European
societies for the benefit of all of us. The Europe-wide photo project FOCUS:
Philanthropy, initially launched by the Russian Donors Forum, sheds light on
foundations’ everyday work and how they empower those most vulnerable
and marginalised.

The project consists traditionally of:

• a photo contest

  Since 2016, a jury, consisting of professional photographers, journalists, and experts from the visual communications field, has determined the finalists.

  Participants can also submit photos for special nominations recognized by partners of the contest. In 2018, the nominations were published in VKontakte, the magazine “National Geographic Russia”, the magazine “Russian Reporter” and the Club of Russian Art Directors. The partner pool is expanding.

• an exhibition of the photo finalists in the urban spaces of Moscow
  Since 2014 residents and visitors of Moscow have viewed the photo contest finalists in public areas as parks, libraries, philanthropy conferences etc.
  The 2018 Finalists: http://www.donorsforum.ru/projects/focusphilanthropy/fotokonkurs/finalisty-i-pobediteli-2018/
• photo exhibitions in various Russian regions

  Thanks to the members and partners of the Donors Forum, in 2017-2018 , the colorful photographs were displayed also in South Sakhalinsk, Novosibirsk, Anadyr, St. Petersburg, Norilsk, Ekaterinburg, Sochi, Davos.

In 2018 there were 2 new formats:

• a series of educational seminars/webinars
  This Visual Communications Program is designed for employees of non-profit organizations, and representatives of funds and socially responsible companies who plan events and programs with photographers. The program was opened to the public from February to November 2018.
  Video recordings of all the sessions are available online at: http://www.donorsforum.ru/projects/focusphilanthropy/education/
• media Projects
  In partnership with the Social Information Agency, the Donors Forum launched a media project that involves regular publications of tips on building visual communications with trained teachers and experts. The publication topics are divided into different sections: building communications, photography techniques, situational photography, assistance in writing the accompanying text, the basics of storytelling, promotion of images, and legal registration. The authors are famous photographers, journalists, photo editors, designers, and social network specialists.

Partners of the project included DAFNE, the Committee of Public Relations of Moscow, the Amway Foundation “Responsible for the Future”, the “Art, Science, and Sport” Foundation, the social network VKontakte, the “National Geographic Russia” magazine, the Club of Russian Art Directors, the magazine “Russian Reporter”, the Social Information Agency, the “Garant” Center etc.