community foundationsBlog

The GROW¡ Tailored Phase session, “Know Your People to Grow Your People,” held under the Community Foundations Incubation Program, invited community foundation leaders to reflect on the relationships, trust, and people-centered practices that sustain strong institutions and rooted communities. Facilitated by Chris Nsubuga, the session explored how leaders can better understand their teams, strengthen internal culture, build trust, and nurture meaningful relationships with the communities they serve. Through practical tools, honest reflection, and shared learning, participants were reminded that sustainable impact begins with knowing people well, listening intentionally, and creating spaces where teams and communities feel seen, valued, and connected to the work.

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The journey of Thobi Pa Lwak began beneath a red umbrella on a gifted piece of land, with a plastic table, a laptop and a shared determination to build something rooted in the community. Today, its rising walls, gate and perimeter posts signal a community foundation slowly taking permanent shape.

Sarah Pacutho reflects on “the interval”: the demanding space between vision and completion, where construction may pause, but the work continues through bursaries for girls, books for the community library and plans for a community hall. It is a story of patience, collective sacrifice and the gradual building of an institution that belongs to the people. Read More:

A leader’s brand is built through trust, consistency, and the experiences people remember long after an interaction ends. During the CivLegacy Community Foundation Program, participants explored how personal reputation, storytelling, and leadership identity shape the institutions they represent.

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For two days in March, 430 girls from communities across the region took part in the Watoto Wasoka Women’s Derby 2026. Competing in the Under-13 and Under-15 categories, the girls demonstrated skill, confidence and determination in a space created intentionally for them. For many, it was their first experience of a structured tournament and a chance to see that the game could belong to them too. With support from communities, coaches and partners, the event provided meals, water, equipment and recognition for every team. The derby showed that the talent and ambition already exist; what girls need is consistent access, encouragement and opportunities to keep growing.

Read more about how the tournament is creating new possibilities for girls through sport.

Periods Are Power is a community-led campaign by Dwona Initiative that used art, sport, and local giving to challenge menstrual stigma and advance menstrual justice. Held from 25 November to 10 December 2025, in alignment with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the campaign reframed menstruation from a private burden into a public conversation about dignity, education, and gender equality.

Through an art exhibition and fundraiser, Dwona mobilized female artists, athletes, and advocates to turn silence into story and shame into pride, reminding communities that periods should never interrupt a girl’s education or limit her confidence. The campaign also demonstrated the strength of local philanthropy, raising approximately $2,245 in cash donations and $5,890 in pledges, showing what is possible when communities collectively invest in solutions they believe in.

Beyond fundraising, the campaign opened doors for collaboration and long-term impact. During the exhibition launch, Dwona Initiative and CivLegacy Foundation, as Co-Leads for GivingTuesday Uganda, formalized a partnership with Rotary Uganda, strengthening a shared commitment to local giving and sustainable development.

This story highlights how creativity and collective action can shift culture and create real change: a future where girls menstruate with dignity, stay in school confidently, and pursue their dreams without barriers.

Read the full story to explore the campaign highlights, reflections from contributors, and the role of local giving and partnerships in building sustained menstrual justice.

On 7th December 2025, Katwe Kinyoro in Kampala hosted The G-Community Gathering, a locally led day of connection and collective renewal supported by Galui Foundation. For several hours, the community moved to a different rhythm: children played freely, neighbours sat together with ease, meals were shared, and conversations unfolded in a space shaped by trust and belonging. What may look like “simple moments” were, in truth, the building blocks of resilience.

At the heart of the gathering were chessboards, used not just for play, but as tools for strategy, patience, learning, and leadership. Voices from partners and community leaders reflected a powerful shift: children were not treated as passive beneficiaries, but as active participants shaping their futures. As a community foundation, Galui Foundation convened parents, elders, youth leaders, educators, social impact actors, and fellow community foundation leaders, creating a safe space to listen, reflect, and recommit to community-led solutions.

This story captures what community philanthropy looks like in practice: people showing up, contributing what they can, and choosing collaboration over isolation. The impact cannot be fully measured in numbers, but it was visible in children who felt safe and seen, parents who felt supported, and a community reminded that transformation is possible when we act together.

Read the full story for reflections from the day, quotes from community leaders, and the principles guiding Galui Foundation’s place-based approach to lasting community change.

Over six weeks, CivSource Africa guided 10 community foundations in Uganda through the GROW¡ Phase of the Community Foundations Incubation Program, a leadership, mentorship, and coaching journey designed to strengthen community-rooted institutions. The cohort engaged six interconnected modules on self-awareness, institutional identity, community-centered programming, financial stewardship, and legacy planning, all aimed at helping leaders align personal purpose with organizational vision.

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A highlight was the closing session, “Know Your Legacy,” led by Hon. Dr. Miria Matembe, who reminded participants that true legacy is measured by daily values and impact, not titles. As these community foundations advance to the Masterclasses on legal frameworks, grantmaking, and resource mobilization, the program continues to build a stronger community philanthropy movement in Uganda, one led by self-aware, accountable, and visionary leaders.

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Read more about how GROW¡ is nurturing sustainable, locally led development.