An investment of time and money pays off in Romania
George Gurescu from ARC (Romania) recounts the success of the Community Foundations Development Program, which led to the creation of two new community foundations in Buzău and Vâlcea—raising the national total to 18. Over 18 months, ARC provided intensive mentorship, peer exchange, and financial support, combining trust-based relationships with tailored capacity-building. Local initiative groups, supported by Mott and the Romanian-American Foundation, mobilised residents and diaspora donors to fundraise and form new foundations—strengthening Romania’s community philanthropy movement and expanding its national reach.
SDGs are embedded in our Values and Vision
This article by Rachel McGrath of the Northamptonshire Community Foundation explains how the foundation integrated the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its core vision and business plan. Seeing itself as both locally rooted and globally connected, the foundation embraced the principle of “think global, act local.” The SDGs now guide its grantmaking, communication, and evaluation—helping align local giving with global priorities. The foundation also plans to support partners and donors in understanding and applying the SDGs in their own work.
Building a Community Foundation is a marathon, not a sprint
In this interview, Ciprian Ciocan, Executive Director of the Sibiu Community Foundation, describes the foundation’s journey from a grassroots initiative to one of Romania’s most innovative civic organisations. Starting with a volunteer-led marathon, Sibiu CF built sustainable fundraising models and programmes such as Științescu (STEAM education) and CitySense (smart city collaboration). Beyond funding, it aims to change local culture—promoting accountability, creativity, and collaboration. For Ciocan, building a community foundation “is a marathon, not a sprint,” requiring long-term vision and local ownership.
The Community Foundation movement in Ukraine – challenges and opportunities
The community foundation movement in Ukraine has grown steadily since its beginnings in 1995, now counting over 30 active organisations. Amid decentralisation reforms, community foundations are becoming essential partners for local governments, enabling citizen participation, local grantmaking, and civic engagement. Supported by ISAR Ednannia, they foster innovation and social responsibility through giving circles, donor programmes, and cultural initiatives like Music Camp International. Despite challenges such as limited civic participation and sustainability concerns, Ukrainian community foundations are strengthening trust and cooperation between citizens, business, and authorities—laying the groundwork for resilient, community-led development.
