Fostering the Active Engagement and Civic Participation of Young People: Community Foundation Exchange Report
This exchange report shares learning from a peer visit between Sibiu Community Foundation and Assifero, joined by several Italian community foundations and youth-focused organisations. It explores how community foundations can involve young people in local action, organisational leadership and decision-making. The report highlights practical examples, including Future Chair, MIRACHALLENGE and the Urban Leadership Academy, while reflecting on youth brain drain, intergenerational spaces, shared ownership and the need to treat young people as active community participants.
Bolder Questions, Bolder Solutions: A Collective Reflection to Imagine a New Vision for Philanthropy
This blog reflects on discussions at the European Forum Alpbach about how philanthropy can act more boldly in pursuit of systems change. It considers flexible funding, shared decision-making, power redistribution and greater trust in communities. The article highlights the value of community foundations as locally rooted, community-owned institutions that support long-term processes, strengthen participation and connect local experimentation with wider systemic change.
The New Italian Kid on the Block
This blog introduces Fondazione Comunità di Benevento, the ninth community foundation established in southern Italy. Through an interview with its chairman, it traces how cooperation around disability support, flood response and social capital led to the foundation’s creation. The article also explains its participatory governance model and its ambition to strengthen community welfare, civic engagement and inclusive local development, with current priorities including health poverty, education, climate action and the circular economy.
