Reflections on the GROW¡ Phase of the Community Foundations Incubation Program
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.
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.
Read more about how GROW¡ is nurturing sustainable, locally led development.
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The path to legitimate and credible Community Foundations.
The path to legitimate and credible community foundations goes beyond passion – it demands a strong grasp of legal and regulatory requirements. In November 2025, community foundation leaders gathered for a legal compliance masterclass that transformed anxiety into clarity, revealing compliance not as a bureaucratic hurdle but as the structure that protects impact, trust, and long-term sustainability. Guided by Counsel Peter Magelah, participants unpacked evolving laws governing non-profits in Uganda, explored why due diligence and transparent reporting matter, and recognised legal literacy as a strategic advantage for bold, accountable leadership. This session reframed compliance as a core pillar of governance, empowering community foundations to operate with confidence, protect their reputation, and plan for lasting impact.
Read more about how community foundations are strengthening their legal foundations for sustainable giving.
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Why Every Community Foundation Needs a Strategy?
Community foundations are powerful engines for local giving and social change, but in today’s fast-changing environment, goodwill alone is not enough. That’s why CivLegacy Foundation convened a strategy development masterclass, led by Dr. Joyce Tamale, to help community foundation leaders clarify their purpose, focus their limited resources, and build resilience. The session underscored that a clear strategy brings direction, strengthens credibility with donors and boards, unites stakeholders around shared goals, and enables foundations to stay agile in volatile contexts. As CivLegacy’s Programs Manager, Catherine Mutesi Mugabo, noted, strategy becomes truly impactful when stakeholders own the process.
Read more about the insights from the masterclass and how we’re supporting community foundations to deepen their impact.
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Learning Never Stops: A Lesson in Legacy and Leadership
As part of the GROW Program for Community Foundations, participants recently had the rare opportunity to learn from Hon. Dr. Miria Matembe, affectionately called “Mama Miria.” What was planned as a leadership session became a living masterclass on legacy. She reminded us that leadership is not about titles, but about the footprints we leave in people’s lives through consistency, service, and courage. For some in the room, her words evoked memories of meeting her as schoolgirls; for others, it was a first encounter with a woman whose voice has shaped Uganda’s women’s movement for decades. The session affirmed a powerful truth: movements don’t die, they evolve, and our task is to keep pouring into the next generation.
Read more about how the GROW Program is centering legacy in leadership development.
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