DEPARTURE STATION: ORIGIN AND CONTEXT
The community foundation movement in Slovakia began in 1994 with the establishment of the Healthy City Community Foundation in Banská Bystrica, marking the inception of community philanthropy in the country and wider Europe. Community foundations emerged at a particular moment in the country’s history, right after the democratic revolution. The first supporters of their establishment were local administrations, which allocated dedicated funds for them to thrive at the beginning; later, they were matched by international foundations, like the Mott Foundation and Open Society.
Over the years, the movement has expanded, and according to recent data, eight community foundations are operating across Slovakia, serving approximately 5.4 million people.
HOW SLOVAKIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS OPERATE: ENGINEERING THE SYSTEM
Slovakian community foundations function as locally governed, independent entities that mobilise resources to address community-specific needs. They engage in grantmaking, support local initiatives, and foster civic engagement. The endowment needed to set up a community foundation is €10,000, and many keep this standard. The range of grants and support varies from one case to another: in 20 years, Liptov Community Foundation made available over 1 million euro. Nitra Community Foundation in 2024 allocated over 180,000€ supporting local initiatives and their own programs.
By law, citizens in Slovakia can allocate 2% of their annual taxes towards community foundations.
FEW MILESTONES ON THE JOURNEY: TOPICS ALONG THE TRACKS
Since the establishment of the first community foundation in 1994, the movement has achieved significant milestones:
- Expansion: Growth from a single foundation to eight community foundations operating nationwide.
- National recognition: Increased acknowledgment of community foundations as pivotal players in local development and civic participation.
- Establishment of a national network, the Slovak Association of community foundations.
- Diverse initiatives and approaches to philanthropy: Implement various programmes, including giving circles, to encourage collective philanthropy. Many foundations, such as the Carpathian Foundation and the Trenčianska Community Foundation, demonstrate innovative approaches to philanthropy, like crowdfunding and participatory grantmaking, as tools to enhance community involvement.
Refugees’ support: Especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, further efforts from community foundations and support to local administrations were required.
- Promoting education and youth participation as a shared priority: Community foundations in the country have focused heavily on programmes aimed at younger people, from education projects to developing their agency. For example, Nitra Community Foundation and Revia Community Foundation spearheaded “Young Philanthropists” programmes to put young people in the driving seats and lead initiatives, from start to end, that would foster community cohesion and development. Trenčín Community Foundation implemented ‘Youth Bank’, which was kicked off with funding from a private company, to create a new generation of young people involved in the community and volunteering in the long term.
- 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals: The SDGs are a recurring theme across the field of community philanthropy in Slovakia. Healthy City Community Foundation (HCCF) in Banská Bystrica started to engage with Agenda 2030 in 2022 by connecting to sustainable development discussions based on its experience with activating local communities in its region and enhancing community resilience. [Read here the case study]
FUTURE STATIONS AHEAD
- Advocate for the field and develop nationwide counter-narratives to address the current framing of the NGO sector in the country, which is strongly penalised and constantly under attack by public administration and the public.
- Enhance collaboration and strengthen partnerships, especially with businesses and non-profits, to amplify impact.
- Explore new funding strategies and fundraising approaches to ensure sustainability for the community foundation and the organisations supported.
- Promote civic engagement and continue to foster active citizen participation to build resilient and vibrant communities, especially in turbulent times.
- Succession planning and organisational sustainability, recognising that the first community foundations were founded 20 years ago, with several having retained the same leadership.
