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We are delighted to invite you to another European Foundation Centre event – the 15th annual Grantmakers East Forum GEF 2010: Facing the Extremes on 26-27 October in Tbilisi, Georgia.

The Steering Committee selected Tbilisi as this year’s site for many reasons. GEF is about change and transformation in geographies “East,” which for many funders  increasingly means beyond the EU member countries. Georgia, aspiring for many centuries to be more closely integrated with Europe, with real prospect for European integration today, has experienced significant transformations in recent years. These transformations have often involved extremes, both positive and negative. This dynamic is not unique to Georgia. The issues and trends of transformations and extremes we will discuss over two days resonate throughout Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia. An open dialogue about such phenomena should help our community of funders examine our own programming as well as understand better the work of our peers, and ultimately, the people we seek to serve through funding commitments.

GEF 2010: Facing the Extremes plenary sessions will focus on select noteworthy trends while also considering whether extremes are inherently negative or might bring welcome innovation and constructive change. Additionally, you will have a chance through auctioned sessions to present issues of interest to you, explore them with peers, and share your successes and learning. Please help us shape the agenda by submitting, voting for and/or running a session!

GEF 2010 will also provide plenty of time for networking, one of the most appreciated features of the Forum.  You will have a chance to mingle with your colleagues through site visits and social events.  These will start with a pre-meeting opportunity to discover and explore Georgia with local NGOs  over the weekend before the conference (23-24 October).  Optional site visits will continue in and around Tbilisi on 25 October.  A welcome reception for all GEF 2010 participants on 25 October will precede the conference start. A classic Georgian dinner party on 26 October will cap the social program.

Tbilisi awaits you with its hospitality, balmy fall and recently renovated venues where we will be hosting GEF 2010.

We very much look forward to seeing you in Tbilisi in October!



Background

The Grantmakers East Forum, formerly The Grantmakers East Group (GEG) was created in 1992 by a group of European Foundation Centre (EFC) members active in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Newly Independent States (NIS). The group first met as a side event at the EFC Annual General Assembly (AGA) and Conference. However, as interest for the group grew, in pace with developments of grantmaking in CEE and the NIS, the GEG was developed into an independent project resulting in the Annual Meeting (AM) which takes place in a different country each year.

2010 Steering Committee

This year’s GEF is generously supported by:
Balkan Trust for Democracy
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Dmitry Zimin Dynasty Foundation
ERSTE Stiftung
Eurasia Partnership Foundation
European Climate Foundation
European Foundation Centre
Global Fund for Women
Microsoft, Central & Eastern Europe
MOZAIK - Community Development Foundation
The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Robert Bosch Foundation
Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Soros Foundation – Latvia
Trust for Civil Society in Central & Eastern Europe
ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius

Interested in hosting…

...future editions of the Grantmakers East Forum? Want to strengthen and promote grantmaking initiatives in your region? Then please contact the GEF secretariat to express your interest and receive further criteria on how this could be possible.