10/06/2026
What transforms a university from a place people pass through into a place that shapes futures? What makes a place truly matter?
Inspired by the theme This Must Be the Place, Bocconi’s Donor Event 2026 reflected on Bocconi as more than a campus: a place where talent, trust, knowledge and come together, and where individual contributions generate impact far beyond themselves.
Introduced by a piano performance by our alumnus Paolo Alderighi, the event opened with a theatrical performance by Gioele Dix, who brought to life the words of founder Ferdinando Bocconi through his 1898 letter. At the origin of the University, philanthropy emerged not as charity, but as an act of faith in education’s ability to transform potential into collective progress.
Setting the tone for the evening, Erika Zancan focused on a central idea: every donation begins with trust. For a student, it means knowing someone believes in their future. For a donor, it means investing in a possibility not yet realized. This relationship between trust, responsibility and opportunity is what allows impact to multiply.
The stories shared throughout the evening gave substance to this vision. Student Irene Palma explained how scholarship support provided her not only with financial assistance, but also with the freedom to choose her own path. The donor perspective was represented by Carlo Bronzini Vender, interviewed by Dean Antonella Carù, in an emotional conversation about the importance of lasting commitment and responsibility across generations.
Research and knowledge remained central: as Professor Andrea Beltratti highlighted, philanthropy supports not only scholarships and chairs, but also the conditions that allow knowledge to be created. Dean Stefano Caselli then guided the audience through a brilliant video tour of the beautiful Grafton building.
The artistic contributions of Gioele Dix, the poetic reading by Professor Eleanor Spaventa, and the music of Paolo and Stephanie Alderighi added another dimension, reminding us that a university is also a place of culture, imagination and shared meaning.
President Andrea Sironi and Rector Francesco Billari connected Bocconi’s philanthropic origins with its future ambitions. Their message was clear: the future is never built alone. It requires a community willing to support talent, advance knowledge and create opportunities across generations.
To our , , partners and : thank you for helping make Bocconi a place for the future. A place where potential becomes opportunity, knowledge becomes impact, and the future begins.
Bocconi Alumni Community, SDA Bocconi School of Management