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Learning from the poor philanthropist?
A new publication of the Building Community Philanthropy project[1] in southern Africa confirms that poor communities have a wealth of knowledge about mobilizing resources and getting them to where they are most needed. Backed by …
Community philanthropy organizations in Brazil – A new paradigm for corporate citizenship[1]
Last year, 25 civil society organizations in the municipality of Guarulhos in Brazil took part in a training programme in institution building and the management of community-based organizations. The programme was led by executives of …
Fiii satului giving in Romania – Scaling up for local development
As part of the growing interest in community philanthropy, development agencies are becoming more concerned to understand and scale up traditional forms of giving – beginning to put into practice the principle of ‘starting with …
Community foundations in Russia – Adapting for sustainability
Community foundations are established for the purpose of raising local funds and working with local donors; if they do this successfully, they will become sustainable. Sustainability is thus the key measure of success. To become …
Fundacion del Empresariado Chihuahuense – From welfare to well-being
Flooding in the province of Chihuahua in 1991 and the subsequent need for funds for reconstruction led to an arrangement between local employers and the state government whereby employers paid an extra 10 per cent …
The United Way model – One campaign for all
Today, there are more than 4,500 United Ways or affiliated organizations in 47 countries around the world. The very first United Way-type organization was formed in 1887, in Denver, Colorado. The Industrial Revolution had created …
Mexico: From charity to social investment
Since colonial times the Mexican philanthropy sector has been based on a Christian conception of charity, which had no place for community participation. This was due to the government’s belief that citizen participation would challenge …
Brazil: Creating a more diverse sector
Great changes have taken place in Brazilian philanthropy – or private social investment, as it has recently come to be called in Brazil – since the establishment of democracy in the mid 1980s. It may …
Central Europe: Rediscovery and reinvention
The future of philanthropy in Central Europe is bright, as was its past. Though reconnecting to the rich philanthropic culture of the past and securing its future has been a daunting task for many leaders …
Russia: A ‘weapon’ that we need
‘Give us 20 quiet years and you will not recognize Russia.’ Peter Stolypin (Head of Russian Government,1907-1911) From a standing start – there was no philanthropy in Russia 20 years ago – the notion has …