2025 ECFI Study Visit Report: Lessons from the Hungarian Community Foundation Field
The ECFI Study Visit 2025, hosted by the Roots & Wings Foundation, took place in Hungary, bringing together 20 delegates from across Europe. The visit’s core objective was to facilitate deep learning from the Hungarian community foundations’ context and foster peer-to-peer exchange, enabling participants to gain practical insights and actionable ideas for their own organisations and national context.
Among the topics explored throughout the four days were: how to encourage civic participation, foster solidarity, promote youth engagement, implement new fund development techniques, succession planning and leadership renewal within the organisation.
Hungary uncovered… Community Foundation Conference in Budapest
The Community Foundation Conference – Hungary Uncovered (Budapest, 2018) brought together over 70 participants from Hungary and Germany to explore the role of community foundations in a challenging civic environment. Despite concerns about social fragmentation and declining trust, the event showcased the vitality of Hungarian initiatives in Budapest, Pécs, and Miskolc. These foundations mobilised hundreds of volunteers, local institutions, and donors, strengthening civic life and demonstrating that community-led philanthropy can build resilience and hope even in restrictive conditions.
