Statement for Johannesburg (WSSD)

We, the members of the Bellagio Forum for Sustainable Development, remain determined to promote our mission and vision for sustainable economic, environmental and social policies at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. The Bellagio Forum, as an organization composed of foundations and other donor agencies dedicated to promoting sustainable development, firmly believes that Foundations have an essential role to play in this process.

An endowed foundation is in a unique position relative to the other important global actors. Corporations must answer to their shareholders, governments are responsible to the people of the nation they represent, NGOs and CSOs must consistently seek sources of funding to remain active. Only endowed foundations, which are subject neither to the short-term necessities nor the scrutiny of a large group of stakeholders – be they shareholders or constituents – have the resources, knowledge and flexibility to take chances, be innovative and consistently run risks. The nature of an endowed organization makes the fundamental principles on which foundations operate sustainable.

The Bellagio Forum believes that foundations can make a tangible, long-term impact by working together to address common issues. A significant and far-reaching effect can be realized by reassessing the way Foundations manage the one thing they all have in common – their endowments.
The Bellagio Forum for Sustainable Development calls upon all endowed foundations to manage their assetsin a sustainable manner:

Endowment Asset Management: it is estimated that foundations worldwide have assets which total trillions of dollars. A large number of these assets are managed on the capital market together with pension funds and other asset managers. New strategies should be developed for how capital assets can be managed to promote sustainable development. By using the power of their assets, as well as the interest generated from them, all endowed foundations can make a significant impact on the way in which corporations do business, while concurrently fulfilling their specific and worthy missions.

The members of the Bellagio Forum have an ambitious and far-reaching vision. The goals that have been set can be accomplished neither quickly nor easily. A step-by-step approach in which environmental, social and economic factors are taken into consideration is a must. We believe that Johannesburg provides a platform to raise awareness and broaden perspectives. It is a place to identify potential partners and to find common ground on which the participants are able to work together for a brighter future. We call upon the participating foundations to rise to this challenge and use their unique character and abilities and provide the leadership necessary to affect positive change.

Background and Mission

The Bellagio Forum is an international network of foundations, non-governmental organizations, media institutions and corporations. It has members in Asia, Europe and North America. Upon an initiative of the Rockefeller Foundation, BFSD was founded in 1993 in the small village of Bellagio, in northern Italy. The Forum’s mission is to design and implement projects that contribute to improving environmental balance, economic stability and social progress in an international framework. As a catalyst between the private sector, civil society and government, BFSD has developed into one of the pre-eminent voices on sustainable development issues.

Best Practice

Bellagio Forum projects are innovative, transnational and interdisciplinary in scope. They build upon the best available intellectual knowledge and can be categorized into four baskets: 1. Policy 2. Research 3. Sustainable Livelihoods and 4. Media

Progress through Dialogue

The Forum maintains excellent relations with both the corporate sector and NGOs (including Friends of the Earth, the World Conservation Union and Development Alternatives). As a fully independent and member-driven organization, BFSD has set modest but significant milestones in the global stainability agenda. Annual meetings feature the world’s leading experts on sustainable development and have become incubators for innovation and change.

The Benefits of Membership

The Bellagio Forum provides an international platform for businesses, foundations, NGOs and academia to jointly develop solid partnerships and positive institutional and personal relationships. The BFSD is independent of governmental, political or corporate interests and acts as a catalyst for real progress towards a more sustainable world. All BFSD members have the right to:

• Use the BFSD’s global network for environment and development work;
• Be part of the Bellagio Forum’s international projects;
• Propose and present new Bellagio initiatives to the membership;
• Request specific regional, national and international expertise from the secretariat, members and partner organizations;
• Request consultancy services from the Forum at membership discount rates;
• Appear with name and logo in Bellagio Forum publications (upon request);
• Attend, free of charge, all Bellagio Forum events including annual meetings;
• Participate in the BFSD’ s media events and press releases where applicable;
• Use the Bellagio Forum’s logo (upon request/to be decided by BFSD-Board);
• Stand for election to the Bellagio Forum’s Board of Directors.

What it takes to join

• Regard sustainable development as a major aspect of their policy and, for corporations, as an integral part of their business activities.
• Comply with all regional, national and international environmental regulations and, for corporations, recognize sustainable
  development as a significant commitment to the company’s corporate responsibility.
• Be able and willing to work in partnership with other BFSD Members and contribute to the overall goals and to individual
  projects of the Forum.
• Facilitate the transfer of know-how and expertise between member organizations and provide financial support for
  BFSD-programs.
• Foster an open dialogue with all sectors of society and provide information on internal environmental policies and,
  for corporations, management strategies related to the company’s environmental goals.
• Be represented at the Forum’s annual meetings and special events.
• Organizations who join the Bellagio Forum are expected to make an annual membership contribution with the amount depending on organization size and type.