Community Foundations (CFs) are charity organizations that are founded and devoted to improving the lives of people in a given geographic area. They are identified and operate differently, Globally. In Uganda, the CFs bring together financial resources of individuals, families, and businesses to support effective non-profit/charitable works in the communities where they operate. As is the case in many African societies, the idea of a community at its core also includes norms and different forms of solidarity. Besides these community-based norms, many large philanthropic initiatives established by local entrepreneurs, society icons including, but not limited to members of royal families have emerged in Uganda. . These initiatives focus on specific areas such as education, healthcare, children, youth, women, and community empowerment among others. Many Ugandans have either established foundations or are actively engaged in giving towards various charities. The culture of giving or generosity in Uganda is predominantly informal and largely focuses on addressing immediate needs such as food, healthcare, education, and empowerment of vulnerable groups.
Despite the unprecedented growth of CFs in Uganda in the past decade, there is limited literature and conceptual discussion about them and their impact on the lives of the people they serve. To contribute to the body of knowledge regarding CFs in a local context, CSA commissioned this research on CFs in Kampala and Wakiso districts. The goal of the research was to identify organisations that fit in the definition of a Community Foundation in two districts; how they define themselves, how they operate, and the role they play in the lives of the people in the communities among other things.
The two districts were chosen because as a metropolitan area, Kampala and Wakiso have the largest concentration of CFs in the country. During the study, the research team collected qualitative data from both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources of data collection involved interviews with key stakeholders: leaders of CFs, beneficiaries, community elders, local authorities, and Community Development Officers (CDOs). Due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place, the research team as much as possible observed the Ministry of Health guidelines where physical interviews were conducted. Secondary data sources involved desk review of available literature relating to giving or generosity and community foundations.
Findings from the study in Kampala and Wakiso identified 172 community foundations operating in the two districts. These CFs broadly describe themselves as organisations devoted to reaching out to vulnerable people in their communities, especially women, children, and the elderly. From the vision and mission analysis of these organisations, the study found an inherent desire for the vision-bearers to achieve community development modelled around education, poverty eradication, healthcare support, childcare, talent development, and spirituality among others. While there is no specific law on CFs in Uganda, the National NGO policy, 2010 and the National NGO Act 2016 (As amended) are the two available avenues through which CFs in the country can derive their legal status. Community foundations are broadly described in the law as community-based organisations regulated by the National NGO Bureau’s monitoring committees established at district and sub-county levels.
The study also identified several challenges within the CFs that inhibit their operations. The challenges included limited human and financial resources, limited organisational capacity to enhance governance for sustainability, limited skills in resource mobilization, limited networking and information sharing, interference from local political elites among other challenges. These challenges notwithstanding, the CFs surveyed were able to register major successes in their communities.
The growth of CFs in Uganda, as institutionalised forms of philanthropy at the local level, needs a deliberate strategy by various stakeholders for the sector to contribute positively to community development. There is need for policymakers to review the current legal framework to recognize the uniqueness of philanthropy as a significant contributor to national development. There is also need for philanthropy support organisations and other stakeholders to build organisational capacity of viable CFs in resource mobilisation and enhance their governance for sustainability.