Achievements of the CFs Network
>> raising nearly $1,180,0001 for capital endowment and over $655,000 for local programs and initiatives;
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>> 1,597 scholarships worth a total of $356,180 enabled junior, senior and undergraduate students to continue their education and pursue their academic interests;
>> Thanks to the generous support of CF donors, since 1999 981 grants worth a total of $300,120 were transferred to local organizations, youth groups, clubs, culture centers, and other social organizations with the aim of developing numerous initiatives that benefited their communities.
>> Network members co-financed various projects, including: holidays for children and youth, meetings, excursions for elderly people, programs of activation of village women, school papers, anti-drug and anti-alcohol programs, programs in support of the disabled people, activities for sports and tourism, programs targeting at ecology and local traditions, as well as protection of human rights, social services and many others.
>> Since 1999, there have been 1,759 instances of CF coverage in nationwide and local media.
All of the grantmaking organizations have regulations concerning distribution of grants/scholarships, grant commissions, application forms, agreements, etc., as well as promotional materials and internet websites.
The first grant independently obtained by the Network
The Community Foundations Network filled it first grant application to the PHARE Access program and received a grant for the execution of pilot campaigns in seven Polish cities. The project "Be a Partner, Give a Chance" included research in seven communities in order to create a map of social problems and develop possible solutions as well as to build local coalitions, which would prepare and implement detailed operational programs. See the summary of this project
Community Foundations have offers for donors
All CFs prepared offers for local donors, which include new and customized proposals of cooperation and various methods of fundraising. The offers include new programs or services for donors (e.g. the Rzeszów program of cooperation with automotive companies, which will support children, the creation of the Corporate Funds, Family Funds, scholarships funds) and new forms of fundraising (payrolling programs for employees and city councilors, transfer of 1 percent of corporate taxes to the CF, organizing regular charitable events, or Internet auctions). A number of CFs already recorded their first success in attracting regular donors, e.g. the Community Foundation of Biłgoraj Region created two corporate funds and a family fund, which support gifted local children from impoverished backgrounds by giving them scholarships. The Nidzica Community Foundation, when organizing the charity ball, for the first time organized an Internet auction of artwork, income of which went to the scholarship program.
Community Foundations prepared the Network's strategy
The Community Foundations Network prepared the draft of the strategy for the years 2003-2006. CFs elected new governors and working groups (in charge of fundraising, promotion and training) within the Network; additionally, the Network's members develop the criteria for including new members in the program. We hope that in 2005 the National Network of Community Foundations will include five new foundations, increasing the number of members to 17.
A group of Network trainers with the practical approach is being built
After internal consultations, the Network works on creating a group of trainers who, with the help of the Academy in 2003, will be prepared to offer external and internal training.
Network Conference
On November 18, 2002, the National Network of Polish Community Foundations together with the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland organized their first national Conference "Community Foundations - New Response to Local Problems". The conference was held in Warsaw under the honorary patronage of Mr. Cameron Munter, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Poland. The aim of the conference, attended by 120 participants, was to present this new type of charity organizations in Poland and to give account of the first successes of Polish Community Foundations. Discussion topics included the start-up and management of Community Foundations and cooperation with local authorities, business, and youth. The CFs made short presentations of some of their activities. [see the report of this conference]
Community Foundations become partners for regional and national donors
The CFs became local partners for the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland and the J&S Pro Bono Poloniae Foundation in the implementation of scholarship programs Safety Pin and Music Safety Pin.
>> Thanks to the Academy's contacts, twelve CFs began regular cooperation with the Educational Enterprise Foundation - a nationwide organization granting scholarships to students. The cooperation focuses on the execution of the national Bridging Scholarships program designed for freshmen regular course undergraduate students, supported by the National Bank of Poland and the Polish-American Freedom Foundation. Community Foundations nominate scholarship candidates, participate in the cost of scholarships (30%), and work directly with the awarded students.
>> Most Network members work together with the Stefan Batory Foundation as part of the "Equal Chances" program, aiming at supporting local scholarship programs.
>> Community foundations have drafted the CF standards, which ensure the high quality of offered services and implemented programs. [see the CF standards]
>> All CFs take steps to create broad community coalitions in order to serve their communities in a long-term perspective, to be the catalyst of social changes and to facilitate philanthropic activities to their donors.
All these achievements contribute to the great success of these communities and prove that "local Poland" can be an excellent partner, able to accomplish outstanding results in implementing community programs.
