ECFI Guide: Community Foundations in Hungary
The Guide to Community Foundations in Hungary portrays a decade of perseverance and innovation within a restrictive civic environment. Despite political pressure, Hungarian community foundations—supported by the Roots & Wings Foundation—have built trust, mobilised local resources, and inspired civic participation in cities like Budapest, Pécs, and Miskolc. Their initiatives, from the Swimathon to community media projects, show how grassroots philanthropy fosters solidarity, creativity, and hope. The guide is both a chronicle of resilience and a call to strengthen democracy from the ground up through community-led action.
Community Foundations and Democracy in Europe
Community Foundations and Democracy in Europe explores how shrinking civic space affects community foundations in Central and Eastern Europe. Drawing on interviews from Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Slovakia, the report reveals how political polarisation, distrust, and restrictive regulations challenge civic engagement. Yet, it highlights how community foundations continue to embody democratic values—transparency, inclusion, and citizen participation—strengthening local resilience and public trust. The publication positions community foundations as essential actors for safeguarding democracy through grassroots leadership and cross-border solidarity.
