Action Learning: Adapting Community Fundraising Events for the Digital World
This action learning case study explores how Oradea Community Foundation successfully transformed its flagship fundraising events and community programmes into online experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. It shares practical lessons on digital engagement, virtual event delivery and maintaining strong relationships with donors, volunteers and the wider community.
Action Learning: Building Individual Giving Through Digital Fundraising
This action learning case study follows Bucharest Community Foundation as it launched its first digital fundraising campaign targeting individual donors. It shares practical lessons on developing online donation tools, communicating organisational value, and adapting fundraising strategies to build resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Digital Transformation – reports from the field
This summary report reflects on the digital transformation journeys of fourteen community foundations across Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies three main types of change: accelerated digital development, enforced practices that may remain useful, and continuous adaptation of programmes and engagement. The report also introduces practical examples covering donor relations, fundraising, grantmaking, stakeholder consultation, remote teamwork and community engagement, encouraging organisations to assess which digital practices should be retained and developed further.
Online donor engagement strategy and implementation
This case study explores how the Community Foundation for Tyne & Wear and Northumberland strengthened donor engagement through a structured digital strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. It describes the use of donor surveys, online events, webinars and digital storytelling to better understand donor interests and maintain meaningful relationships. The publication offers practical insights into building long-term digital engagement that complements face-to-face philanthropy and broadens opportunities to connect with new and existing donors.
Adapting in-person programs to online delivery
This case study documents how the Healthy City Community Foundation Banská Bystrica adapted its programmes and fundraising activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. It describes the shift to online grantmaking, virtual events and digital fundraising, while reflecting on the opportunities and limitations of remote engagement. The publication also highlights the challenges of reaching digitally excluded communities and considers the evolving role of community foundations in promoting inclusion and strengthening local partnerships.
Digitalising processes for remote work and engagement with the community
This case study shows how the Community Foundation of the Canavese adapted to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by introducing new digital tools and communication practices. It describes how remote working, online collaboration and digital storytelling helped the foundation maintain relationships with donors, strengthen connections with local organisations and expand its fundraising activities. The publication also reflects on the role of digital transformation in building resilience and supporting long-term community engagement.
Website redesign to include better digital communication with stakeholders
This case study describes how Munus Community Foundation in Parma redesigned its website to support stronger communication with stakeholders and introduce an integrated crowdfunding platform. It reflects on the strategic thinking behind the project, including stakeholder mapping, digital fundraising and organisational priorities. The publication also shares lessons from ECFI’s Action Learning programme, highlighting how peer exchange and simple digital tools helped shape the foundation’s approach to digital transformation.
Adapting tools and processes to work collaboratively and remotely as a team
This case study examines how the Sibiu Community Foundation adapted its internal processes and digital infrastructure to support remote collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. It describes the introduction of new communication and project management tools, agile working practices and improvements to its fundraising platform. The publication highlights the importance of organisational development, team wellbeing and stakeholder-centred digital innovation in building more resilient and effective community foundations.
