Over two days in Almería, more than one hundred representatives from community foundations, emerging initiatives, philanthropy, universities, public institutions and international partners came together to reflect on a simple yet critical question: what role can community foundations play in helping territories navigate an increasingly complex world?
What emerged was much more than the annual gathering of Spain’s community foundation movement. It became a moment to take stock of how far the movement has come and, perhaps more importantly, where it is heading.
The Spanish community foundation ecosystem is entering a new phase of maturity. Just a few years ago, there were only five established community foundations in the country. Today there are thirteen, with fifteen expected by the end of 2026. Yet the real story is not numerical growth. It is the emergence of a shared movement: one built on common methodologies, peer learning, mutual support, international connections and a collective ambition to strengthen local communities over the long term.
Throughout the gathering, one message resonated across every session: community foundations are not simply local grantmakers. They are civic infrastructure. Their distinctive contribution lies in their ability to listen deeply, connect diverse actors, mobilise local resources and sustain long-term processes of change. In a context marked by democratic challenges, territorial inequalities, climate transition and declining trust, these organisations help communities recognise their own assets and act collectively.
The first day, through Territories with a Future, illustrated this beautifully. Almería itself became a living case study, demonstrating how challenges such as migration, housing, urban regeneration, social cohesion and sustainability cannot be addressed in isolation. Speakers repeatedly highlighted that today’s challenges are not primarily about a lack of resources, but about building coordination, trust and collaboration across sectors. Leadership, in this context, means creating the conditions for others to work together rather than occupying the centre of decision-making.
Another recurring theme was sustainability. Discussions moved well beyond fundraising towards a broader understanding of organisational resilience. Participants explored impact investment, diversified revenue models, partnerships with businesses and, importantly, the need to fund the infrastructure that enables community foundations to fulfil their mission: teams, relationships, communication, data and learning. As many participants noted, investing in organisational capacity is investing in impact.
One particularly inspiring session focused on participatory philanthropy through donor circles. Rather than viewing giving as a simple financial transaction, participants experienced philanthropy as a collective process of dialogue, deliberation and shared decision-making. The exercise demonstrated how generosity can strengthen belonging and community ownership while making philanthropy more accessible and democratic.
The second day broadened the perspective beyond Spain. Experiences from Italy, France, Portugal, Argentina and Ukraine reminded us that, despite different contexts, community foundations everywhere grapple with similar questions: how to build legitimacy, diversify resources, engage businesses, measure impact and strengthen democracy from the ground up. The international dialogue reinforced an essential lesson: legitimacy cannot be imported. It is earned through presence, listening and long-term relationships within each territory.
Among the most moving contributions was that of the Ukrainian community foundation network. Their experience showed that the trust built before a crisis becomes one of the greatest assets during one. As Kateryna Syvyryn reminded us, “Hope is not simply an emotion.” Hope is something communities actively build through trust, solidarity and collective action. It was a powerful reminder that community foundations are not only responders in times of emergency—they strengthen the social fabric that makes resilience possible long before crises emerge.
The gathering also celebrated collaboration within the movement itself. Participants exchanged practical tools, mapping methodologies, CRM systems, impact measurement frameworks and approaches to youth participation. These exchanges reflected a growing culture in which organisations no longer need to reinvent solutions independently but can build on one another’s experiences while adapting them to their own local realities.
Perhaps the strongest takeaway from Almería is that the Spanish community foundation movement is no longer focused solely on creating new organisations. It is building something far more ambitious: a social infrastructure capable of generating trust, activating local resources, sharing knowledge and sustaining organised hope. Community foundations are increasingly recognised as platforms that enable communities to understand themselves, connect across differences and shape their own futures.
As one participant reflected at the close of the gathering, “We are creating something big from something small, from the local.” That sentiment captures the spirit of these two days. The future of community philanthropy will not be built through isolated initiatives, but through networks of communities learning from one another, strengthening one another, and proving that lasting transformation always begins locally.
Read the sum up of the two days produced by the Association of Spanish Foundation VI_Annual_Meeting_Community_Foundations_Almeria_EN
