Philippe Jabre: Scholarships That Scale

Philippe Jabre, founder, CIO and CEO of Jabre Capital Partners, heads an independent wealth management company and multi-family office based in Geneva, Switzerland. He is also the founder of the Association Philippe Jabre, a non-profit created to provide educational resources, scholarships and healthcare support to underprivileged youth and families in Lebanon. This article will take a closer look at educational philanthropy – in particular, scholarships – and the measures being implemented to ensure fair selection, strong governance and enhanced student outcomes.

In March 2021, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) released its new Global Reporting Standards, establishing new benchmarks and providing global guidance on educational philanthropy in schools, colleges and universities all over the world. These guidelines underpin ongoing work to guide the education sector, ensuring consistency and integrity in educational advancement work, as well as supporting CASE’s own work in data collection and reporting.

The CASE Global Reporting Standards were updated by a working group comprising CASE staff and volunteers and co-chaired by Brian Hastings, CEO and president of University of Nebraska Foundation, and Matthew Eynon, vice president for college advancement at Franklin & Marshal College. They established a framework for standards and advancement of the profession, highlighting the power, impact and importance of philanthropy in education.

The working group comprised representatives of many of the world’s leading advancement programmes, with their efforts helping to ensure that CASE defined standards that represent excellence in the education profession. These new standards include industry best practices, an essential element of upholding the integrity of the profession on a global scale.

Key changes to the CASE Global Reporting Standards included updated guidance around donor control and influence, gift counting, funds received and new funds committed. For the first time, the standards added a CASE Statement on Ethics as well as Principles of Practice for the advancement of disciplines. The standards also incorporated a new definition for educational philanthropy, stipulating that all financial support must be offered for the sole purpose of benefiting the mission of the institution and its social impact – without an expressed or implied expectation that it would return anything more than stewardship and recognition in return for such support. Cara Giacomini, CASE chief research & data officer, suggested that the new CASE Global Reporting Standards would pave the way for consistent, transparent reporting of institutional progress in fundraising to identify emerging trends and unify the field of advancement.

Today, many philanthropists are turning to education, recognising its power to drive positive change in the world. For those who seek to increase educational opportunities for others, there are many ways to approach educational funding, with scholarship programmes ranking as one of the most popular educational philanthropy strategies.

The world of philanthropy is changing and so too is governance, placing the onus on forward-looking foundations to take a deeper look at power dynamics, composition and the mindsets of their boards, holding them accountable for their commitments and ensuring they remain purpose-driven and fit for purpose in a world defined by interdependence, complexity and disruption.

About the Association Philippe Jabre

The Association Philippe Jabre provides financial support and university scholarships to students studying towards a bachelor’s degree in Lebanon, as well as providing funding for post-graduate university studies both within Lebanon and overseas. The Association partners with various educational, religious, charitable, medical and cultural organisations, providing vital financial support. Over the years, it has established working relationships with numerous institutions that share its values and vision. In addition to easing school fee and higher educational burdens for Lebanese families, enshrining children’s rights to an education, the Association Philippe Jabre also funds medicines, medical procedures and equipment, maintaining effective partnerships with hospitals to ensure quick responses in urgent cases.