Philanthropy highlights blog

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
The Rise of Local Philanthropy | 4TH SPACE

Join film director and producer Josie Fomé and Jacqueline Asiimwe, CEO of CivSource Africa, for an insightful conversation following the screening of The Rise of Local Philanthropy. This powerful documentary delves into the experiences of communities in Kampala, Uganda, when international aid organizations withdrew at the height of the pandemic, leaving many Ugandans without critical support. Despite this, local organizations rose to the challenge, filling the gap and providing essential aid. Watch the film and discover their inspiring story.

The film is available here: The Rise of Local Philanthropy

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Ednah Rebeccah
Localisation: Just another civil society buzzword?

CivLegacy Foundation's recent study explores the impact of the localisation agenda on global development, highlighting challenges like funding imbalances and structural power issues that local organisations face. The report emphasizes the need for a collaborative, community-centered approach that prioritizes direct funding and local-led solutions.

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Ednah Rebeccah
#ShiftThePower Global Summit | A collective goal & a bond in diversity. (Bogota, Colombia)

What started off as a convening to facilitate conversation within a community that dreamed of philanthropy and development done better has since birthed a movement. This movement saw multitudes of development practitioners, philanthropy support organisations, non-profits, grassroots organisations, funders, academia and more converge in Bogota to collectively celebrate the milestones achieved so far, strategize for the future and form connections to further advance the shift in the development system.  The Global Fund for Community Foundations convened the #ShiftThePower Global Summit, a gathering that was highly diverse and largely attended by participants from all over the world and different corners of the philanthropy and development space.

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Ednah Rebeccah
We need to talk about the D word | #DecolonisingPhilanthropy

WINGS' 2023 Forum featured a highly anticipated session, 'Decolonising Philanthropy: A Global South Exploration,'. The session delved into the intricacies of decolonization, offering insightful perspectives from practitioners in Brazil, Uganda, Ghana, and Mexico. Addressing systemic imbalances in philanthropy, participants challenged established notions and advocated for introspection. The conversation explored colonial actions in the sector and proposed strategies for decolonization, unveiling tough truths about outdated dynamics. Beyond issues of White supremacy, the dialogue encompassed challenges within African collaborations and the need for a mindset shift among funders from the Global North. The forum called for a reassessment of aid flow, philanthropic narratives, and the role of intermediaries. Emphasizing the importance of embracing discomfort, the session encouraged a focus on transformation in day-to-day practices. This compelling discussion at WINGSForum 2023 aimed to inspire funders to genuinely embody transformation.

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Ednah Rebeccah
Breaking Stigmas, Building Futures through Acts of Generosity: Giving Tuesday 2023 Celebration in Uganda

 

November 28, 2023, marked a momentous day as Uganda joyfully participated in the worldwide observance of Giving Tuesday. Embracing the profound concept that is both simple and impactful, the essence was clear: a collective commitment to contribute skills, time, talent, and treasure to causes that resonate deeply. Guided by the empowering theme #LeavetoGive, individuals stepped away from their daily pursuits to embark on a journey of giving, amplifying the spirit of generosity and communal support.

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Ednah Rebeccah
Slum Life Survival Fundraising Dinner

Slum Life Survival (SLS) is a non-government organization committed to making a difference in the lives of slum dwellers by empowering youth, children, and women. Slum Life Survival interfaces with the people living in slums by engaging them in projects that focus on economic development, provision of clean water, and sanitation, improving healthcare facilities, and advocating for equitable urban Policies. All this work has been transformed into impactful stories.

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Ivan Muguya
Gathering of Givers 2023. Beyond Profit_Businesses Driving Social Change

Friday 29th September 2023 marked the 4th convening of the Gathering of Givers (GoG) hosted at Mestil Hotel Kampala in Uganda by CivSource Africa. The Gathering of Givers is a colorful event that brings together different people of the world, united by the spirit of Philanthropy. This year’s Gathering of Givers was themed; Beyond Profit: Businesses Driving Social Change.

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Ivan Muguya