Bolder Questions, Bolder Solutions: A Collective Reflection to Imagine a New Vision for Philanthropy
This blog reflects on discussions at the European Forum Alpbach about how philanthropy can act more boldly in pursuit of systems change. It considers flexible funding, shared decision-making, power redistribution and greater trust in communities. The article highlights the value of community foundations as locally rooted, community-owned institutions that support long-term processes, strengthen participation and connect local experimentation with wider systemic change.
Guide to Community Foundations in Serbia
This guide presents the development of community foundations in Serbia and the social, political and economic context in which they operate. It explains Trag Foundation’s movement-building approach and profiles community foundations in Niš, Stara Pazova and Pančevo, highlighting their fundraising, grantmaking, inclusion and community leadership practices. The publication also offers practical recommendations on early grantmaking, matching funds, registration, locally adapted fundraising and peer learning.
First community foundation in Andalusia
This blog introduces Fundación Almería Tierra Abierta, the first community foundation established in Andalusia. Created by more than 45 founders from business, civil society and other local institutions, the foundation aims to address the province’s social sustainability challenges, particularly the living conditions of migrant workers. The article highlights the importance of broad local participation, diverse governance and long-term support from the Spanish Association of Foundations in developing the initiative.
The New Italian Kid on the Block
This blog introduces Fondazione Comunità di Benevento, the ninth community foundation established in southern Italy. Through an interview with its chairman, it traces how cooperation around disability support, flood response and social capital led to the foundation’s creation. The article also explains its participatory governance model and its ambition to strengthen community welfare, civic engagement and inclusive local development, with current priorities including health poverty, education, climate action and the circular economy.
Community and Citizen Organising: What Works and the Role of Community Foundations
This illustrated storybook captures learning from an ECFI meeting on community and citizen organising involving practitioners from across Europe. Using the Community Organising Framework, it explores how community foundations can reach and listen to communities, build connections, support inclusive local groups, strengthen leadership and help people mobilise for action. It also highlights the importance of trust, realistic expectations, collaboration and long-term systemic change.
Community foundation building: Identifying key capacities for the Spanish context
This article examines how the community foundation model can be adapted to Spain and identifies six capacities needed for its development. These include community leadership, listening and engagement, growing local philanthropy, strengthening local organisations, preparing for disaster response and adapting to territorial context. Drawing on literature, expert interviews and analysis of existing Spanish foundations, it also proposes practical tools and recommendations for organisations supporting new and emerging community foundations.
Bottom-up Empowerment: Community Foundation Development in Serbia
This blog examines the development of community foundations in Serbia through the experience of the Trag Foundation and its collaboration with academic partners. It highlights research into the role of community foundations in empowering citizens, mobilising local resources and encouraging community ownership, while also addressing barriers such as low trust, apathy and limited capacity. The article reflects on the resilience of emerging foundations and the importance of evidence in supporting future field development.
Povezivanje lokalnih fondacija sa Ciljevima održivog razvoja
This Serbian-language guide shows how community foundations can connect local action with the Sustainable Development Goals and embed the SDG framework across their entire organisation. Drawing on examples from Europe and Canada, it covers mission, investment, strategy, grantmaking, communications, operations, community data and partnerships. The publication also offers ten practical steps to help community foundations understand, adopt and use the SDGs to strengthen their relevance, credibility and local impact.
The Role of Community Foundations in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
This research paper examines how community foundations are incorporating the Sustainable Development Goals into their strategies, programmes and grantmaking. Drawing on examples from North America, Europe, Asia and Africa, it highlights their role in generating local knowledge, educating and engaging communities, building cross-sector partnerships and connecting global goals with local action. The paper also considers the potential development of community foundations in Albania and their contribution to locally driven sustainable development.
Community Foundations and Refugees
This report captures learning from an ECFI meeting on how community foundations responded to the refugee crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Drawing on experiences from Romania, Poland and Germany, it examines operational pressures, volunteer mobilisation, fundraising, cooperation with public bodies and the need for long-term integration strategies. It also highlights the distinctive value of community foundations as trusted local institutions able to act quickly, connect stakeholders and combine local knowledge with national and international support.
