The two-day conference “Philanthropy: Science and Practice”, held in Moscow on October 20–21, brought together over a hundred representatives of philanthropic organizations, academia, business, and government. Organized by the Center for Philanthropy Development of the Vladimir Potanin Foundation, the event focused on how data, research, and professional cooperation contribute to a more effective and sustainable philanthropic sector.
In her opening remarks, Oksana Oracheva, General Director of the Foundation, emphasized the importance of professional expertise and transparent knowledge exchange as key factors in the long-term development of philanthropy.
Endowments: transparency and growth
The number of Russian endowment funds has increased from 16 in 2007 to more than 300 today, yet access to consolidated information about their performance remains limited, said Oleg Sharipkov, Head of the Penza Endowment Knowledge Hub. Dmitry Mindich, Head of Research Projects at RAEX Rating Agency, added that greater transparency and data availability would strengthen public trust.
Irina Tolmacheva, Legal Director at the Russian Foreign Trade Academy, suggested creating a national endowment registry to simplify state support and offer additional incentives for donors.
Maria Bulygina, Director of the Specialized Endowment Fund of Tomsk State University, presented TSU’s fund — now exceeding 230 million rubles — as an example of sustainable growth supported by alumni and business.
Panel moderator Andrey Sharonov, CEO of the National ESG Alliance, noted that clear communication and measurable results help encourage long-term donor engagement.
A study by the Zircon Research Group showed that endowments are gaining recognition, though media coverage remains limited (1,515 mentions in 2022 and 1,427 in 2023). Deputy Head Anastasia Saponova noted that most coverage is positive but largely professional. Experts highlighted the Foundation’s leading role in promoting public dialogue about endowments and philanthropy.
Irina Zhuykova, Head of the Social Policy Department at Norilsk Nickel, shared how the company uses endowments to support long-term social projects: “Endowments allow us to ensure continuous support for NGOs independent of short-term market factors,” she said.
Research-based perspectives on the nonprofit sector
Natalia Zubarevich, Professor at Lomonosov Moscow State University, spoke about the role of corporate and regional philanthropy in improving quality of life across the country. Lev Jakobson, Vice President of the Higher School of Economics, noted that modern philanthropy increasingly complements state initiatives in education, culture, and social inclusion.
A study by the HSE International Laboratory for Social Integration Studies identified limited resources and staff shortages as key challenges for regional NGOs, said Konstantin Obukhov, Senior Researcher at the Laboratory. Nevertheless, many organizations build effective relationships with donors and volunteers, which strengthens local communities.
Another study by Anastasia Savelyeva, Head of the Social Projects Department at Metalloinvest, and Kirill Spivak, Expert in Public and Social Initiatives at Rexoft Consulting, showed that in smaller towns 48 percent of residents trust their neighbors, but only about one in five participate in local decision-making. The city of Dudinka ranked highest in the civic involvement index compiled for 16 industrial towns.
Svetlana Makovetskaya, Director of the GRANI Center for Civil Analysis and Independent Research, pointed out that many local NGOs are led by teachers and community activists who combine this work with their main jobs. “Expanding co-funding mechanisms and simplifying access to support programs would make these initiatives more effective,” she said.
The discussions demonstrated that philanthropy in Russia is becoming increasingly research-based and professional. Participants emphasized that cooperation between academia, business, government, and civil society is essential for transparency, institutional growth, and sustainable social development.
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