Konstantin Obukhov took part in the scientific and practical conference "Philanthropy: Science and Practice"

On October 20-21, the Smirnov House in Moscow hosted the scientific and practical conference  "Philanthropy: Science and Practice  ," organized by the Vladimir Potanin Charitable Foundation. Konstantin Obukhov, a senior research fellow at the ILSIR, delivered a presentation.

At the conference, researchers presented the results of their studies of various aspects of philanthropy—from its value foundations and historical context to the contribution of nonprofits to the economy, legal regulation, and the development of endowments. According to the organizers, this event aims to create a space of trust and knowledge exchange, fostering connections between researchers, experts, managers, and donors. 

Vladimir Potanin Charitable Foundation

Konstantin Obukhov presented a report, "Transparency and Openness of NPOs in Russian Regions: Advantages and Barriers," which, based on interviews with NPOs leaders in Russian regions, presents three main accountability strategies: formal, targeted, and expanded. The presentation and subsequent discussion examine in detail the barriers and advantages of each of these strategies. The report's key finding is that an NPO's choice of transparency strategy is closely linked to its type of social capital and trust, with many organizations opting for limited (targeted) reporting to avoid risks and excessive scrutiny.

Vladimir Potanin Charitable Foundation

The discussion raised questions about the levels of openness and accountability highlighted in international studies today, which areas of NPO work in Russia are most associated with concealing information about their activities, and the extent to which representatives of organizations are prepared to form network structures for mutual accountability and self-regulation of their activities.