The Parliamentary Philanthropy event is an intimate gathering of prominent UK parliamentarians; Ministers, MPs, Life Peers (Lords & Baronesses) and as well as powerful philanthropists and entrepreneurs (founders, chairpersons & CEOs) who are propelling social change. Parliamentarians and philanthropists shape this event agenda by espousing the pressing causes in a collaborative, cross party spirit. The purpose of the Parliamentary Philanthropy event is to foster cooperation and a thought exchange to inform and fill policy gaps, as well as notify philanthropic programmes, thereby helping to build major clusters of support for the benefit of humanity.

The event is a restricted zone to promote an ideas exchange to engender cooperation. Participation is limited to parliamentary lawmakers and philanthropy principals being complimentary agents of change, thus designed to enable free flowing deliberations, stimulate networking and facilitate meaningful cooperation amongst its high-level participants with the aim of joining up and advancing policy and philanthropic thinking and action.

As an umbrella charity convenor we harness our diverse stakeholder network to echo the concerns of civil society and the people they serve. The events itself have a strict code of conduct to harmonise relations and to act appropriately:-

• No lobbying - parliamentarians dislike being pressured for specific self-serving personal or professional ends
• No solicitation – philanthropists and entrepreneurs dislike being harassed for funding or investment
• No politically motivated participants–parliamentarians; MPs and Peers across both Houses are invited
• No press interference – to enable uninhibited and free flowing peer to peer discussions
• Non-political – charitable issues to be explored in a collaborative, non-partisan spirit

These events are hosted at the dining room/s of the House of Lords, the Palace of Westmnister and the Savoy hotel. The event commences with a welcome introduction by Renu Mehta who sets out the evening agenda. There may be a notable philanthropist and a parliamentarian speaker, followed by guest self-introductions who are given ‘the floor’ for 2 minutes each setting out their giving and wider interests. The next segment is ‘forging public-philanthropic partnerships’ roundtable discussion. This process ferments cross-table discussions on topics engendered by the guests in pursuit of forging strategic alliances for the benefit of humanity.

Fortune Forum shall mobilise its high-level network of philanthropists, business, and NGO leaders to inform parliamentarian debate and connect philanthropists to policy initiatives through its Parliamentary Philanthropy initiative which convenes triennially. This event format provides a gateway for Fortune Forum to engage with UK Parliamentarians regardless of party affiliation. Building on our aid policy successes, we are calling for the expansion of the UK Aid Match programme which doubles direct NGO funding thereby bypassing superfluous bureaucratic funding channels to deliver more impact.

The Ambassadors’ Philanthropy event is a private roundtable event limited to 15 international philanthropists who are at the nexus of cross-border social, political and economic impact. The ambassador co-host would be a G20 or richer OECD Nation country ambassador to the UK, and ‘sponsor’ of the dinner in his/her ambassador residence. The co-hosts may invite a notable philanthropist or philanthropic personality of the same country’s origin, as guest of honour.

The ‘twin’ policies of trade and development are often viewed as mutually reinforcing and part of the same virtuous circle whereby trade boosts the economy and helps the country develop; and development increases a country’s ability to produce and trade goods and services. This event seeks to energise this international development dynamic in its bid to foster cross border collaboration to reduce global inequality.

As the most senior overseas diplomat representing their country in the UK, ambassadors can uniquely harness this position by providing a high-level forum for public-private development cooperation. The format commences with a welcome speech by the host Ambassador outlining the country’s unique heritage. The Ambassador shall give an overview of their country’s main mission, trade and development priorities as well as pose opportunities for country cooperation. This is followed by a short event framing speech by Fortune Forum co-host Renu Mehta setting out the event format; starting with guest self-introductions who are given ‘the floor’ for 2 minutes each setting out their giving and wider interests. The next segment is ‘forging cross-border philanthropic partnerships’ roundtable discussion. This process ferments cross-table discussions on topics engendered by the guests in pursuit of forging borderless alliances for the benefit of humanity.

This Ambassadors Philanthropy event format provides a gateway for Fortune Forum to engage with country parliamentarian networks, development practitioners and national policy makers to provide an opportunity to inform them of an array of matched funding policies - to help the world meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals, to build a more prosperous and peaceful world.

These pictures are of the splendid Portuguese Ambassador UK residence, Belgrave Square, London, host to an Ambassadors Philanthropy event, generously supported by HE Ambassador Brito.