Generating the will to give
The Novarese Community Foundation has embraced fund development by thinking long term and by getting out into the territory. Here, Gianluca Vacchini, describes their approach of asset building through generating knowledge and trust. This has resulted in over 100 active funds, and importantly created the opportunity for attracting the ‘unexpected’ donor.
Local Philanthropy and Community Foundations in European Capital Cities. Challenges and opportunities.
This report explores the challenges and opportunities faced by community foundations in European capital cities, focusing on local development and philanthropy. Drawing on case examples and wider experience brought by participants, it underscores key learnings related to scalability, meaningful partnerships, and social innovation. The exploration of a variety of locally oriented approaches aims to contribute to the promotion of sustainable urban development.
Transformative Learning: A Tale of Two Organisations. CF2CF Exchange Report
This report shares practical insights and inspiring stories from a peer learning exchange between the Romanian Federation of Community Foundation (FFCR) and the Spanish Association of Foundations (AEF). It highlights the transformative power of collaborative learning and offers valuable lessons for community engagement, event-based fundraising, and capacity building. The report also showcases innovative approaches and grantmaking schemes, providing valuable insights.
Lessons form an exchange: Austria – Romania
This report shares insights and inspiring stories from an exchange between Austrian initiative groups and Romanian community foundations. The exchange aimed to accelerate the development of the community foundation field in Austria by learning from successful practitioners in Romania. The report highlights the practical impact of the exchange, including shaping the Austrian community foundation program and launching the first Capacity Building program. It also showcases the innovative approaches and grantmaking schemes adopted by the Romanian community foundations to fund their projects.
Fostering the active engagement and civic participation of young people – community foundation exchange report
This exchange between Sibiu Community Foundation (Romania) and Assifero (Italy) highlights how peer learning strengthens the strategic role of community foundations. It focuses on fund development, donor engagement, and the positioning of community foundations within national philanthropy ecosystems. The visit illustrates how sharing practices across contexts helps refine approaches to sustainability, build stronger relationships with donors, and enhance the capacity of community foundations to act as trusted local intermediaries.
The importance of saying ‘yes’
This piece explores how community foundations in Serbia became agents of social change despite challenging political and social conditions. Based on qualitative research with grantees and local actors, it shows how openness, trust, and consistent support—especially towards informal groups—enabled community engagement and revitalised civic participation. By saying “yes” to local initiatives, community foundations created space for action, strengthened civil society, and demonstrated how small-scale interventions can lead to broader systemic change.
The regeneration of our communities through community foundations and the SDGs
This publication positions community foundations as key actors in regenerating communities by aligning local action with the SDGs. Using the Raimat Lleida Community Foundation as an example, it shows how regeneration can be operationalised through interconnected focus areas such as social action, culture, innovation, and environmental sustainability. By mobilising local actors, fostering leadership, and building cross-sector partnerships, community foundations create collaborative systems that strengthen resilience, support local economies, and enable long-term, place-based transformation.
The Elephant in the Porcelain Factory
Andreea Alexandrov, Federation of Romanian Community Foundations, was among the ECFI Delegates and a session speaker at the UKCF conference in Manchester in October. Nominated as one of the best presenters for the conference she always offers thoughtful insight, articulated in memorable ways. In the blog are her succinct reflections on the main conference theme ‘Foundations for the Future: Acting now to Shape Tomorrow’.
New initiative to support the development of community foundations in Albania
This blog outlines the emerging efforts to develop community foundations in Albania, led by Partners Albania. It highlights a growing civil society, increasing public trust and a rise in philanthropic activity as key enabling conditions. The text positions community foundations as a strategic tool to strengthen local giving, connect actors across sectors and support community-led initiatives through awareness-building, research and new platforms such as crowdfunding.
COVID-19. Community Foundations in Action Italy – Recovery time will be long
This case from the Community Foundation of Messina illustrates how community foundations can respond to crisis while addressing deeper structural challenges. Beyond immediate relief, the foundation developed financial instruments such as microcredit and grants, built local production networks and strengthened partnerships to counter poverty and economic vulnerability. The publication highlights how crisis response can intersect with long-term goals such as social innovation, human rights and resilience against systemic risks.
