Shaping the Field | A Shared Journey Toward Community-Driven Infrastructure
In April 2025, CivLegacy Foundation participated in the Infrastructure for the Future Gathering in Bucharest, Romania, a powerful convening hosted by Inspire in partnership with the Mott Foundation. This global event brought together over 100 practitioners, researchers, and allies of Community Foundation Support Organizations (CFSOs) from across continents. The gathering served as a vibrant platform to share histories, strategies, and aspirations for building resilient and community-driven infrastructure for philanthropy.
CivLegacy co-designed and facilitated sessions on topics including community foundation incubation and governance, contributing practical insights into nurturing trusted local anchors, designing flexible incubation models, and fostering strong accountability systems across ecosystems. The convening also created space for reflection on the well-being of practitioners and emphasized co-creation, peer learning, and the emotional resilience required for transformative work. A study visit to the Bucharest Community Foundation showcased how CFs can evolve organically, from small funders to catalysts of bold, community-led innovation.