Foundation Masterclass: Fundamentals of transformational multi-sector partnership

2–day retreat, near Zurich, Switzerland – 25-26 February 2026

Join a cohort of philanthropy professionals for an immersive two–day Masterclass designed to transform how you approach partnerships. This workshop is the first in our comprehensive Masterclass series, preparing philanthropic leaders to use multi-sector partnerships to drive transformational impact.

Partnerships matter now more than ever

In today’s world of shrinking state budgets, overstretched civil society, and overlapping social and climate crises, partnership-building is no longer optional—it is essential. Traditional grant-making alone cannot meet the scale or complexity of the challenges we face.

Transformative partnerships move beyond traditional grants to harness the power of multi-sector collaboration —bringing together civil society, government, and business to shift systems towards sustainable outcomes for people and planet.

Unlock the power of partnerships for transformational impact

Philanthropy is uniquely positioned to spark bold collaboration, unite diverse stakeholders, and champion innovation where others may hesitate. Whether accelerating the transition to renewable energy, strengthening health systems, building inclusive economies, or safeguarding democratic spaces—multi-sector partnerships are key to driving systemic change.

By developing your capacity to invest in collaborative approaches, your foundation can amplify the impact of every grant, foster resilient cross-sector relationships, and create enduring outcomes that extend well beyond individual funding cycles.

“The team at TPI understand deeply the fundamental building blocks of partnering[…] Their analysis and insights are very practical and will enable us to take a robust approach and make it more effective still.”  – Z Zurich Foundation

This masterclass – co-hosted by Stiftung Mercator Schweiz – brings together the philanthropy expertise of Philea and WINGS with the proven partnering methodologies of The Partnering Initiative (TPI) — global pioneers in the art and science of collaboration. By blending cutting-edge systems thinking with practical approaches to effective multi-sector partnering, this course offers more than theory: it’s a hands-on blueprint for transformational impact.

You’ll gain tools, insights, and strategies that you can apply immediately to strengthen your partnering practice and amplify your philanthropic mission.

Key benefits:

• Practical tools to design and lead effective multi-sector partnerships
• Real-world case studies from a range of sectors and geographies
• Partnering frameworks for philanthropic contexts
• Expert facilitation from leading voices in collaboration and philanthropy
• Immediate applicability to your current initiatives and strategic goals
• Peer learning and networking with other philanthropic leaders

This masterclass is designed for philanthropy professionals in grant-making foundations who are actively involved in building and managing partnerships. Ideal participants include:

• Programme managers
• Partnership directors
• Collaboration leads
• Programme officers working on multi-sector initiatives

Whether you’re just beginning to explore collaborative approaches or already leading complex, multi-sector partnerships, this course will deepen your expertise, sharpen your strategic thinking, and expand your toolkit for driving systemic change through effective collaboration.

Enrolment on the course is limited to those applying from ‘grant-making’ philanthropic foundations. We are not able to offer places to those applying from operating foundations or non-profit delivery organisations which do not disburse grants.