Time to Celebrate in Austria: Community Foundation Mühlviertel Launches
For several years, the Association for Charitable Foundations (Verband für gemeinnütziges Stiften – VgS), Austria’s national CFSO, supported by the Mott Foundation, has been running a support programme for community foundation initiatives. The Community Foundation Mühlviertel, the first foundation to emerge from this programme, is now beginning its operational work.
Back to the basics with forward thinking: How support infrastructure keeps the system flowing
Community foundation support organisations (CFSOs) are sometimes described as the scaffolding of our field – the structures that hold networks together and help movements grow. But during this year’s CFSO gathering in Vienna on 24–25 November, another metaphor felt far more fitting: CFSOs as the plumbing of the philanthropy ecosystem. Not the most glamorous image, perhaps. But stay with us. Read Kathrin Dombroski and James Magowan collective insights that emerged during the ECFI 2025 CFSOs meeting.
Recentering the purpose and pathways for community foundation support organisations: Infrastructure for the Future
Over 100 leaders from community foundations support organisations (CFSOs) representing 34 countries across four continents gathered in Bucharest, convened by Inspire, to reflect and exchange on the present and possible future roles for CFSOs. Here, we share some of the insights gathered by the ECFI team.
The Journey of Community Foundations in Portugal
Our next destination of our Interail mini-series is Portugal. Discover how community foundations are emerging and how the Portuguese Foundation Centre is supporting the development of the movement.
The Journey of Community Foundations in France
Ride with us through France, our next destination of our Interail mini-series. Discover here how the community foundations were born there, the challenges they face – starting from their name – and how Fondation de Lille and other organisations are supporting the development of the field.
Journey of Slovakian Community Foundations
Second stop of our Interrail series: Slovakia. Discover the origin of its community foundations movement, their features, tracks covered in the past and future stations ahead.
Lessons form an exchange: Austria – Romania
This report shares insights and inspiring stories from an exchange between Austrian initiative groups and Romanian community foundations. The exchange aimed to accelerate the development of the community foundation field in Austria by learning from successful practitioners in Romania. The report highlights the practical impact of the exchange, including shaping the Austrian community foundation program and launching the first Capacity Building program. It also showcases the innovative approaches and grantmaking schemes adopted by the Romanian community foundations to fund their projects.
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.
ECFI CFSO Meeting 2022: The Future Is Local and Releasing the Power of Local
This presentation summarises discussions from ECFI’s Community Foundation Support Organisation meetings in Brussels in December 2022. It explores the value of place-based philanthropy, the role of support organisations and the conditions needed for stronger national and international collaboration. The presentation also captures reflections on ECFI’s activities, priorities for the field, ways to increase engagement and practical ideas for strengthening relationships, knowledge exchange and the wider visibility of community foundations.
