The case for strengthening communities

For the latest annual CIVICUS report on the state of civil society, Avila Kilmurray and Barry Knight (GFCF) bring attention to a new global development industry that “may not be fit for purpose”, calling for a more holistic approach to local challenges. “As the contribution of local people through their own CSOs is downgraded, everyone loses: development aid professionals find it difficult to attain their goals, and local people experience insurmountable obstacles in making any contribution to the wellbeing of their communities.”

Community philanthropy and a new model of development

In this newly unlocked article from Alliance magazine, Jenny Hodgson (GFCF) and Barry Knight (CENTRIS) ask what role community philanthropy can play in development post-2015. Community foundation leaders in North America and Europe weigh in. “The post-2015 goals will apply universally, not just to developing countries, so this discussion is relevant everywhere.”

Most comprehensive dataset about community foundations now available

Today at the 2014 Fall Conference for Community Foundations, an international research collaboration unveiled the Community Foundation Atlas, the most comprehensive directory of the world’s community foundation movement that has ever been published. The online platform maps the identities, locations, assets, roles and achievements of place-based philanthropies around the world.

The power of networks, locally and globally

In our latest WINGSForum 2014 reaction piece, Ansis Bērziņš of the Community Foundation Movement in Latvia emphasises the role of data in strengthening community identity. “Reliable data is a tool that explains what philanthropy is, what grantmakers do, and how these concepts can contribute to local communities. Data can and does show that we are not alone.”

How networking leads to powerful results

Lourdes Sanz-Moguel of CEMEFI reflects on WINGSForum 2014 and the importance of communicating the benefits of networking. “Understanding the network and its power is especially important for WINGS members that are membership associations, because it provides a set of insights they can pass down to their own membership, in order to continue the work and inspire new levels of commitment.”

Community Foundation Atlas will commemorate movement’s 100th year

The world’s first comprehensive atlas of the community foundation movement will provide an unprecedented opportunity for community foundations and community philanthropy organisa­tions worldwide to increase their visibility to a much wider audience including peers, policy makers and potential funders. Organisations can share their work and effectiveness by taking a brief survey.