CF2CF Exchange between Pécs and Mureș Community Foundations
This report documents a peer exchange between Pécs Community Foundation and Mureș Community Foundation focused on community fundraising and organisational development. Through visits to a Giving Circle in Pécs and the Bikeathon in Târgu Mureș, participants explored event design, donor engagement, volunteer involvement, professional staffing, communications and cooperation with businesses and local authorities. The report also reflects on how large-scale fundraising events can strengthen local participation, visibility and long-term sustainability.
2023 exchanges bring a youthful dynamic
This piece shows how CF2CF exchanges are injecting new energy into the community foundation field, particularly through youth engagement and cross-border collaboration. Romania’s dynamic ecosystem plays a central role, offering models for fundraising, leadership, and civic participation. The exchanges connect organisations across Europe to share practices, co-develop projects, and address overlooked issues such as rural marginalisation. A strong focus is placed on intergenerational cooperation, helping younger actors step into leadership while drawing on the experience of older generations.
Lessons from an Exchange: Via Foundation and Trag Foundation
This report captures lessons from a peer exchange between Via Foundation in Czechia and Trag Foundation in Serbia. It highlights practical approaches to developing new community foundations, supporting advocacy, designing multi-stage grantmaking processes and strengthening grantees through training, mentoring and capacity building. Personal reflections also show how international peer learning can inspire organisations to adapt effective practices, improve impact measurement and build stronger networks among supported initiatives.
Lessons from an Exchange: Bucharest and Amsterdam
This report reflects on a learning exchange between Bucharest Community Foundation and community-based organisations in Amsterdam. It highlights practical ideas for strengthening community engagement through celebratory events, flexible micro-grants, alternative city tours, arts-based activities and asset-based approaches. Team reflections also explore how positive experiences, imagination, trust and attention to internal processes can help community foundations reconnect neighbours, reduce social tensions and sustain participation during periods of uncertainty.
From inside Ukraine
This blog offers a first-hand account of how Ukrainian community foundations responded during the first months of Russia’s full-scale invasion. It describes their rapid mobilisation to support civilians, displaced people, volunteers, hospitals and local defence efforts, while maintaining social cohesion and community resilience. The article also highlights the coordinating role of the National Network for the Development of Local Philanthropy and presents practical examples of humanitarian, cultural, medical and housing initiatives.
Exchange Learning Outcomes report from the Banat region (Serbia – Romania)
This learning report documents a peer exchange between the emerging Pančevo Community Foundation and the more established Timișoara Community Foundation. It shares practical lessons on fundraising, community mobilisation, grantmaking, governance, organisational development, staff wellbeing and partnership building. The report also shows how peer learning can help a new community foundation develop realistic priorities, strengthen relationships, establish appropriate structures and adapt tested approaches to its own local context.
Implementation of emergency response and recovery funds / programmes
This summary captures how community foundation support organisations across Europe responded to the COVID-19 crisis by rapidly establishing emergency and recovery funds. It highlights key lessons around coordination, flexibility, and long-term sustainability, using a 4Cs lens to structure actions related to capacity, capability, connections, and credibility.
