Purpose of the Report
To provide a comprehensive overview of the community foundation (CF) movement across Europe, showcasing its evolution, diversity, common challenges, and national-specific developments.
Key Insights
1. A Quiet Revolution
CFs are locally rooted philanthropic institutions, combining financial and non-financial resources (e.g. volunteers) to serve their communities.
They are created by the community, for the community, acting as conveners and catalysts for local change.
2. Celebrating Diversity
There’s no single legal form or definition for CFs in Europe.
Structures, functions, and strategies vary widely by country, adapted to local social, economic, and political realities.
This diversity is seen as a strength but complicates coordination at the European level.
3. Common Topics & Challenges
Shared concerns include:
Cost of living crisis
Political polarisation and democratic backsliding
Demographic decline and youth emigration
Environmental challenges
Financial sustainability is a persistent issue: many CFs struggle to raise core funding (not just project-specific grants).
Government relationships are inconsistent: in some countries supportive, in others restrictive or even hostile.
4. Strategic Role of CFs
CFs are not only funders but also community leaders, facilitators, and coalition builders.
They work on education, mental health, public space renewal, culture, climate action, and citizen participation.
SDGs are increasingly used as a framework, though not always easy to align with the complexity of local action.
5. Country Profiles
30+ country profiles show the unique development paths, challenges, and infrastructure of CFs across Europe.
Some countries have mature ecosystems (Germany, Italy, Poland), others are just beginning (Austria, Georgia, France).
Support Infrastructure
National and regional support organisations and networks play a critical role in:
Peer learning
Advocacy
Standard setting
Capacity building
The report maps out these support actors and categorises their roles (memberships, networks, national champions, etc.).
Conclusion
Community foundations in Europe are growing in relevance and impact. Their strength lies in being locally embedded, flexible, and responsive — making them key players in tackling local issues with global resonance.
