From Transaction to Transformation
This blog reflects on discussions from the 2023 UK Community Foundations CEO retreat about the future role of community foundations. It explores how transparency, donor engagement and sustainable giving can move philanthropy beyond transactions towards long-term transformation. The article also highlights climate action, equality-focused grantmaking, rural inequalities, Black leadership, organisational sustainability and the importance of peer learning in helping community foundations respond to complex and changing local needs.
Creating the standards of the Federation of Community Foundations in Poland
This blog describes how the Federation of Community Foundations in Poland revised its membership standards to reflect the changing needs of the field. It traces the Federation’s development, its growing national role and the influence of international learning on the new framework. The article also explores two key debates: whether endowment capital should remain a membership requirement and whether organisations using community foundation principles should be eligible to join even without formally identifying as community foundations.
QUALITY ACCREDITATION – core to the development, sustainability and future-proofing our network
This blog explains how UK Community Foundations uses Quality Accreditation to define shared standards, assess organisational practice and support continuous improvement across its network. It outlines the five areas covered by the process, including governance, financial management, donor services, grantmaking and organisational development. The article also considers how future accreditation could place greater emphasis on long-term thinking, relationships, transparency, inclusive funding and the evolving role of community foundations within local ecosystems.
ECFI Activities and Learnings 2021: A Look Ahead to 2022
This presentation reviews ECFI’s activities, reach and key learnings from 2021 while outlining priorities for 2022. It covers peer learning, digital transformation, thematic meetings, emerging community foundation fields, SDG engagement, knowledge sharing and online study visits. The presentation also reflects on challenges including uneven participation, limited resources and field research capacity, and sets out plans for stronger research, strategic discussion, movement building and collaboration across Europe.
