Working across faith lines to help the most vulnerable in our world
‘Faith & Philanthropy’ Summits
Our mission is to bring together the world’s leading philanthropists of all faiths to join forces and tackle the world’s most pressing challenges of our day, through interfaith collaboration.
The Vatican, October 2022
Blenheim Palace, October 2024
The second ‘Faith & Philanthropy’ Summit – Blenheim Palace, October 2024
Peace & Philanthropy: Healing Our Common Home and Each Other
The second Summit took place in the unrivalled setting of Blenheim Palace – the largest private palace in the United Kingdom and also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
The theme for the second Summit was ‘Peace and Philanthropy: Healing Our Common Home and Each Other’. 100 leading philanthropists and thought leaders convened to consider how to work together to tackle some of the world’s most pressing needs and how to amplify the impact of Philanthropy by working together across faith lines.
BBC’s Edward Stourton and ITV’s Julie Etchingham moderated panels on Philanthropists Building Peace, Protecting the Oceans and Creating a Safe World for Children.
At the opening of the Summit, Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and a globally respected advocate for human rights and climate justice, delivered a powerful address that set the tone for the discussions to follow. She emphasised the transformative potential of collaborative efforts rooted in shared values and mutual understanding:
“Please believe that if you can build an inter-faith philanthropy that really can work globally, I believe that it will make a difference”
Once again, our partners included the World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists and the Jewish Funders Network.
Inaugural Faith & Philanthropy Summit
The Vatican, October 2022
If Faith can move mountains, how can we harness faith-inspired Philanthropy to feed the hungry, free the oppressed and help every person fulfil their potential?
The Galileo Foundation, in partnership with the Global Compact on Education, the World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists, the Jewish Funders Network and the UBS Optimus Foundation, launched the inaugural ‘Faith and Philanthropy Summit’ in October 2022 in the Casina Pius IV in Vatican City with the approval of His Holiness Pope Francis and participation of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope’s Secretary of State, and by Cardinal Peter Turkson, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
On February 4th 2020 at the Pontifical Academy, the Holy Father remarked:
“Currently, the 50 richest people possess the equivalent of US$ 2.2 trillion. The Pope said that, on their own, they could finance “medical care and education for every poor child in the world, either through taxes and/or philanthropy” and save millions of lives every year.”
President of the Galileo Foundation, John McCaffrey, said “The 2022 Faith and Philanthropy Summit is the first time that philanthropy has been formally addressed at the Vatican.”
Bringing together philanthropists from all faith backgrounds reflects the Holy Father’s desire to celebrate the fraternity of the universal Family.
All of the world’s religions encourage charitable acts and alms-giving as a central tenet of their faiths. Pope Francis has reminded us on many occasions about the obligation to give back, to look after the poor and the most vulnerable, and how philanthropy can play an important role in this.
As the world emerges from the global pandemic with fresh eyes, it is surely the right moment to celebrate the role that Philanthropy has played during the past two years, and the vital role that it will play in the future to help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Bringing together 145 leading philanthropists from five different faith groups, joining forces to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Read more here:
How The Galileo Foundation Brought Together Leading Philanthropists For The First Faith And Philanthropy Summit (forbes.com)
Prophets of Philanthropy Awards 2024
The 2024 award honourees include former Irish President Mary Robinson, actor and activist Sharon Stone, fashion icon Donatella Versace, and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and its founders Maestro Daniel Barenboim and late Palestinian intellectual Professor Edward W. Said.
Sharon Stone is recognized for her lifelong advocacy for equality, health, and humanitarian causes. Donatella Versace receives the award for her steadfast commitment to promoting Equality and LGBTQIA+ human rights through her leadership in the fashion industry and her philanthropic efforts supporting marginalised communities.
Maestro Daniel Barenboim, Mariam C. Said, wife of late Palestinian intellectual Professor Edward W. Said, and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra are honoured for their visionary work fostering in dialogue through music, uniting musicians from Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and other countries from Middle East to promote cultural understanding and bridge divides.
Presenting the Awards, John McCaffrey, President of the Galileo Foundation, remarked, “It is fitting that those who have worked tirelessly to promote equality and human rights are honoured at this critical time.
Sharon Stone is not only an actress known throughout the world, but also a tireless advocate for Equality and many humanitarian causes. She was one of the first to raise funds for the victims of AIDS when it was a hugely unfashionable cause.
In a world that craves peace more than ever, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra stands out as a beacon of hope and through its work and through its work and existence demonstrates that bridges can be built to encourage people to listen to the other’s narrative. Based on its notion of equality, cooperation and justice for all, the orchestra represents an alternative model to the situation in the Middle East. The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra says “In and through our music we seek to model a life of mutual recognition between equals.”
Donatella Versace, receiving the award from former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful, OBE, said, “I am humbled to be made a Prophet of Philanthropy by The Galileo Foundation. It inspires me to continue to give a voice to the LGBTQ+ community globally. I am a proud ally, and our support has never been more important. We must do everything we can to make this world a fairer and more equitable place.”
Sharon Stone said ‘This award means so much to me, especially given the work that the Galileo Foundation does to support Pope Francis’ vision of a fairer world. Their support of the Talitha Kum religious sisters fighting the scourge of human trafficking around the world is particularly inspiring. It is an honor to be associated with the Galileo Foundation.”
Former Irish President, Mary Robinson, upon receiving her award at the Summit Gala Dinner, remarked: “This Faith and Philanthropy Summit is unique in that it is one of the few gatherings bringing together philanthropists from the three major faiths to share the experience of their philanthropy and explore ways in which they can collaborate together. At this critical time in the world, that is more needed than ever before and I applaud the Galileo Foundation’s mission in bringing them together.”
Prophets of Philanthropy Awards 2022
The first ‘Prophets of Philanthropy Awards’ were presented in October 2022 at the Vatican. The inaugural recipients of the awards were:
Jeff Bezos and Chef Jose Andres who founded the World Central Kitchen which has provided over 200 million meals to those in need around the world and is currently working on the ground in Ukraine and Gaza where WCK has established 150 field kitchens.
Ted Turner for his game changing benefaction to the United Nations Foundation in 1997 to protect the Earth (his daughter Laura Turner Seydel received the award on behalf of her father)
Denis O’Brien, Irish philanthropist and Digicell founder, for his work in Haiti and Papua New Guinea building 188 schools for 60,000 students as well as training 1700 teachers and school principals. President Bill Clinton honoured Mr. O’Brien with this accolade.
Press
Vogue Article – October 2024
Donatella Versace Honored With the 2024 Prophets of Philanthropy Award
WWD Article – October 2024
Donatella Versace Receives Philanthropy Award From The Galileo Foundation
Forbes – October 2022
How The Galileo Foundation Brought Together Leading Philanthropists For The First Faith And Philanthropy Summit