Philanthropy highlights blog

Rethinking Private Sector Engagement

The Jinja convening validated more than research; it unveiled a movement. Local businesses across Uganda are stepping up as partners in development, driven by purpose, proximity, and a desire to give meaningfully. From health outreach to skills training and menstrual equity, their stories reveal a philanthropic spirit grounded in trust and community. But to scale this impact, we must move from recognition to collaboration. Now is the time to rethink how private sector actors and CSOs work together, not as separate sectors, but as co-creators of lasting change. Let’s build a future powered by local giving, rooted partnerships, and collective vision.

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Ednah Rebeccah
Community Philanthropy – A Radical Force Beyond Aid.

The future of civil society might not be found in aid but in solidarity, self-trust, and local connection. As the CivLegacy Foundation continues to champion community foundations and locally driven philanthropy, we call on all development actors to deepen collaboration, engage domestic donors, and see communities not for what they lack, but for what they already hold. Join us in unlocking the radical power of giving from within.

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Ednah Rebeccah
Shaping the Field | A Shared Journey Toward Community-Driven Infrastructure

The future of community philanthropy is ours to shape, intentionally and collectively. As CivLegacy returns from Bucharest inspired and renewed, we invite fellow practitioners, funders, and community leaders to connect, collaborate, and build infrastructures that are people-centered, adaptive, and rooted in shared purpose. Let’s keep the momentum going, reach out, share your learning, and join the global movement toward community-driven transformation.

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Ednah Rebeccah
A positive step towards rethinking development.

Locally led development is no longer a buzzword; it’s a necessary shift. As we rethink how change happens, now is the time to engage deeply with local voices, review the position paper, and co-design sustainable solutions. Stakeholders are invited to reflect, respond, and take bold action to realize a development agenda truly led by communities.

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Ednah Rebeccah
No More Financial Embarrassment by the Non-Profit Sector!

Shrinking foreign aid is pushing African philanthropy to rethink sustainability. At the May 2025 WINGS Africa meeting, leaders spotlighted urgent lessons from EPIC-Africaand EAPN on building resilient, locally funded systems. From bold calls to action to a renewed focus on African-led giving, the message was clear: the future is in our hands. At CivLegacy Foundation, we’re walking that talk.

Read more and join the movement for community-powered philanthropy.

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Ednah Rebeccah
CAPSI teams up with 17 African Universities for a 5-year research project.

CivLegacy Foundation joined stakeholders at the Makerere–CAPSI workshop, launching a 5-year research project involving 17 African universities. The study will explore how the non-profit sector contributes to youth employment across Africa, focusing on dignified and inclusive work opportunities. With input from government, academia, and civil society, the research aims to generate data that will inform policy, unlock economic potential, and better position the sector as a key driver of youth empowerment.

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Ednah Rebeccah
High-level Youth Policy Dialogue on Youth-Centred National Planning.

In April 2025, CivLegacy Foundation joined over 100 youth leaders and stakeholders at a national policy dialogue focused on youth unemployment and Uganda’s NDP IV. The convening unpacked gaps in current youth employment programs and emphasized the urgent need for youth-centred planning, system reform, and skills development. With voices from government, research institutions, and youth-led organizations, the dialogue called for bolder strategies to turn Uganda’s youth bulge into a golden opportunity.

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Ednah Rebeccah
Towards a collaborative multi-stakeholder framework for Uganda’s development.

In January 2025, Uganda’s Parliament approved the National Development Plan IV, emphasizing the need for stronger public-private partnerships and greater involvement of non-state actors. The 2025 Philanthropy Forum Uganda convening echoed this vision, calling for a bold shift toward collaborative, people-powered development. With reflections from key leaders, including CivSource Legacy Foundation’s Catherine Mutesi Mugabo, the forum challenged stakeholders to align resources, co-create solutions, and rethink aid and accountability for lasting impact.

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Ednah Rebeccah
Community Foundations - A key enabler for local philanthropy in Uganda.

CivLegacy Foundation is advancing Community Foundations (CFs) as key drivers of local philanthropy in Uganda. In March 2025, a masterclass in Kampala equipped CF leaders with practical tools for community-led grantmaking, trust-building, and resource mobilization. With insights from experts like Jeremy Maarman and Elizabeth Mbabazi, the session emphasized collaboration, transformative leadership, and community grounding. CivLegacy remains committed to growing a national movement that strengthens civic engagement and puts resources, and power, closer to the people.

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Ednah Rebeccah
Celebrating Good Deeds Day 2025

On Good Deeds Day 2025, we turned streets into stages, waste into worth, and generosity into a living, breathing force for change. From Kampala’s vibrant march to heartfelt performances and acts of kindness, we saw what happens when community rises with purpose.
This wasn’t just a celebration, it was a call to keep doing good, boldly, locally, and together.

Read the full story HERE:

#GoodDeedsDay #OmutimaOmugabi #DoingGood

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Ednah Rebeccah
Echoes of Generosity: Celebrating the Spirit of Giving at the 5th Gathering of Givers Festival

On September 28, 2024, the Ndere Centre in Kampala transformed into a vibrant hub of inspiration as CivLegacy Foundation, in partnership with CivSource Africa, The NGO Forum, and Qweshunga, hosted the 5th edition of the Gathering of Givers Festival. Under the theme Our Generous Spirit, over 200 changemakers, including philanthropists, youth leaders, and community champions, came together to celebrate the enduring power of giving.

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Ednah Rebeccah
Rethinking CSR and Local Giving: A Gulu Gathering Sparks a New Philanthropic Future

In February 2025, CivLegacy Foundation convened a powerful validation and collaboration forum at Acholi Inn, Gulu, uniting changemakers from Arua and Gulu to spotlight the role of local businesses in community giving. Centered on a groundbreaking study of business-led philanthropy across Northern and Eastern Uganda, the gathering challenged traditional CSR, emphasizing African-rooted giving built on solidarity, reciprocity, and resilience.

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Ednah Rebeccah
Strengthening Legal Compliance for Community Foundations

In February 2025, CivSource Africa, in partnership with CivLegacy Foundation and Orima & Co Advocates, hosted a three-day residential masterclass focused on legal compliance, governance, and sustainability for community foundations in Uganda. With a growing movement to formally recognize community foundations in law, this training brought together sector leaders united by a vision: to build lasting institutions rooted in trust and community.

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Ednah Rebeccah
Grassroots Gold: Empowering Community Foundations in Uganda

On October 18, 2024, CivLegacy Foundation hosted Progress and Partnerships for Community Foundations in Uganda, welcoming leaders from the Mott Foundation and Women Solidarity Initiative Uganda. The event highlighted the transformative role of community foundations in empowering grassroots movements and overcoming challenges.

Read more about our efforts to empower grassroots movements and build resilient communities.

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Ednah Rebeccah
Reclaiming the Narrative on Funding

In this webinar, experts explored how local and regional organizations can redefine funding narratives and assert their autonomy with donors. Key discussions highlighted the challenges of direct funding, the value of local intermediaries, and the need for inclusive, relationship-focused due diligence. The dialogue emphasized evolving funding practices to empower grassroots organizations and foster equitable partnerships.

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Ednah Rebeccah
The Grand Bargain National Reference Group Annual Meeting

Held at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, the Grand Bargain National Reference Group (NRG) Annual Meeting united key stakeholders from across sectors to redefine Uganda's humanitarian approach. Organized by the Uganda National NGO Forum, the event emphasized the need to empower local actors in humanitarian efforts, advocating for more collaborative, locally-led, and flexible funding models. This pivotal gathering called for a humanitarian system where local voices lead the response, fostering sustainable, community-driven change.

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Ednah Rebeccah
STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION THROUGH PARTICIPATORY APPROACHES AND LOCAL ADVOCACY

The "Strategies for Community Mobilization through Participatory Approaches and Local Advocacy" forum, hosted by the East African Philanthropy Network (EAPN) with UNNGOF and CivSource Africa, gathered over 180 stakeholders to foster community-driven change. Held at Protea Hotel, Kololo, the event emphasized shifting from traditional top-down development to participatory models that empower communities to drive sustainable solutions. Through collaborative discussions and practical exercises, the forum advanced strategies for inclusive planning and local advocacy to strengthen community resilience and ownership.

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Ednah Rebeccah
𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

The Philanthropy Program Team participated in a transformative roundtable on "Unlocking Domestic Resources for Holistic Development." The event, curated by key organizations, emphasized the power of cross-sector collaboration to mobilize resources, enhance local ecosystems, and build sustainable futures. By uniting philanthropy, public, and private sectors, we can drive impactful, long-term change.

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Ednah Rebeccah