Highlights from the 3rd National Gathering of Community Foundations 

For the third time, community foundations (CFs) from across Hungary gathered, this year in Nyíregyháza, for our annual national meeting. Nine community foundations were represented, along with the KözösALAPON team, as we spent two productive days together. Our aim was to strengthen connections, share experiences, and learn from one another. 

The 2024 gathering was a fantastic experience, demonstrating that community foundations (CFs) in Hungary are becoming increasingly active and playing a more significant role in their communities. Key topics included what CFs can do to address climate change (inspired by insights from the ECFI learning group), strategies for engaging youth, and an exciting initiative to develop a system that measures the impact of CF operations, tailored to the needs of each foundation. One of the main themes of this year’s meeting was the idea of collaboration through thematic funds, focusing on areas like climate protection, youth engagement, and education. CFs will be able to collaborate based on their specific interests and ongoing projects in these areas.

We were also thrilled to highlight that CF members had the opportunity to expand their horizons through international learning visits. This year, members traveled to Romania, Italy, and Belgium, gaining valuable insights and inspiration, which they shared during the conference. 

Overall, this gathering was another step forward in building a more connected and resilient community foundation network in Hungary. We look forward to continuing this journey together and seeing the powerful changes these organizations will bring to their communities.

A video of the meeting can be viewed at this link.