The ingredients of succession planning: in conversation with Agrigento and Trapani Community Foundation
ECFI, in collaboration with Article Org (AGO), hosted a second conversation on the topic of succession planning, exploring the recent experience of the Agrigento and Trapani Community Foundation. The Foundation’s former Director, Giuseppe La Rocca, stepped down, passing the baton to Viviana Rizzuto. The purpose of the meeting was to shed light on key elements and principles of a succession leadership strategy in the context of community foundations.
Making the Case and Being a Voice for Community Foundations
This brief sums up the insights from the online discussion, that ECFI hosted, about the distinctive role of CFSOs and CFs in advocacy. The conversation has been framed around three interconnected dimensions of advocacy: visibility; operating environment and addressing issues/topics.
Transformation in funding practice – listening, learning, and acting
In 2019, Community Foundation Wales initiated a community consultation process to better understand the needs of its grantees. The results were strikingly consistent: the main concern was short-term, project-related funding, which prevented them from focusing on and delivering their mission. The foundation responded swiftly by reviewing its funding strategy to include support for core costs and for multi-year funding. In this interview, Andrea Powell, Director of Programmes (and Deputy Chief Executive), shares the organisation’s journey, the challenges it has faced, and the opportunities ahead.
Bridging communities through philanthropy: insights from a study visit to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
In July representatives from Local Action Hubs (prospective community foundations) from North Macedonia, along with the support organisation, Association Konekt, took part in a study visit to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. They engaged with the Trag Foundation, foundation leaders, community members, and local stakeholders to learn from diverse models of grassroots action explored how community foundations are driving local development, fostering civic engagement, and cultivating a culture of philanthropy. Below Nikola
Trajkovski, Programme Associate, Association Konekt reflects on a deeply emotional, intellectual and transformative experience.
What AI has got to do with community foundations?
Last June, ECFI hosted an interactive webinar to explore how community foundations and community foundation support organisations
are beginning to experiment with and integrate AI into their work. This short report summarises the topics discussed and shares
insights from across the community foundation field.
ECFI Guide: Community Foundations in the Netherlands
This Guide describes the evolution and current state of the community foundation field in the Netherlands with recommendations for development applicable in most contexts
The Greater Manchester Take-aways
This report collates reflections from European delegates to the UKCF conference 2022 ‘Foundations for the Future: Acting now to shape tomorrow’ and associated study visit to the community foundation ‘Forever Manchester’.
Living the dream in Romania
James Magowan shares his reflections on the community foundation movement in Romania, the road they have travelled and the current challenges. His reflections were prompted by his attendance at the Romanian Federation of Community Foundations conference in October 2022.
ECFI Guide: Community Foundations in Italy
The Guide to Community Foundations in Italy presents a rich mosaic of local philanthropy shaped by diversity and innovation. Since 1999, Italy’s 37 community foundations have grown into trusted platforms connecting citizens, institutions, and donors to address social, economic, and cultural challenges. Promoted by Assifero with partners such as Cariplo and Con il Sud, they act as community hubs—mobilising resources, nurturing civic participation, and fostering inclusion from Lombardy to Sicily. The guide celebrates a movement that unites tradition, social innovation, and long-term commitment to human development.
ECFI Guide: Community Foundations in Romania
The Guide to Community Foundations in Romania traces the rapid development of a strong community philanthropy movement since 2008. Initiated by the Association for Community Relations (ARC), it highlights how local leaders, donors, and citizens have built 16 foundations serving nearly half of Romania’s population. The publication showcases stories of civic renewal, diaspora engagement, education funds, and youth-led initiatives—revealing how trust, local pride, and cooperation are revitalising communities and strengthening Romania’s social fabric.
