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Local Philanthropy Serves as a Lifeline for Civil Society and Community Organizations
The Serbian foundation Trag, with the support of the Belgrade City Council, the International Rescue Committee, and others, established information and communications centers in the parks of three Serbian cities to provide incoming refugees with the support they need to make a safer journey through Europe. Courtesy of tragfondacija.org.
As civil society operates in an increasingly hostile space, the role of local, grassroots grantmakers has never been more important, according to Jenny Hodgson, executive director of the Global Fund for Community Foundations (GFCF). Local funding is crucial for building healthy, inclusive communities, Hodgson wrote in a recent blog post for Open Democracy. Philanthropic sectors are emerging in countries including Serbia, previously thought of as an “aid recipient,” and China, where donors have established indigenous foundations that match or surpass their international peers in asset size. Hodgson noted that for many organizations being a familiar, local presence allows them to engage on sensitive topics like refugee support or peacebuilding.
Related Links
OpenDemocracy.net: Local funding is not just an option anymore—it’s an imperative (May 10, 2016)