The Center for Community Philanthropy is a project of the Ukraine Citizen Action Network (UCAN)/Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC). The Center is funded by the United States Agency for International Development and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.  The Center’s main goal is to promote the development of community philanthropy in Ukraine by introducing various models of charity giving in society and by providing informational-technical support to Ukrainian specialists working in this field.

We define the concept of community philanthropy as the desire of certain individuals or local organizations to personally donate money, property, time, and skills for the betterment of certain people and segment of a community where they live and work.     Community philanthropy can also be shaped as an organized and formalized entity (i.e. transparent distribution of funds with set procedures such as, grantmaking activities).  In such a case, individuals donate funds to special local institutions (a community foundation, for example) who in their names use funds raised to support organizations that work to improve the welfare of the local population on a long-term basis.    The Center, for its part, pays special attention to promoting the development of similar philanthropic structures in Ukraine. 

Main program activities of the Center planned for the year 2006 includes:

- Conduct a study of community philanthropy issues in Ukraine;

- Organize an annual professional conference. (The first conference On the path to gaining society’s trust: charity in Ukrainian society was held on June 20-22, 2005 in Kyiv);

- Offer the Center’s clients a series of printed and electronic informational resources;

- Promote the exchange of professional know-how and experiences between Ukrainian specialists including the organization of study tours and internships;

- Hold practical and effective trainings on community philanthropy related topics;

- Develop and disseminate methodical/educational manuals on community philanthropy issues;

- Conduct information campaigns designed to spread the idea of community philanthropy to the greater public.

If you currently work (or are just starting to work) in community philanthropy, if you’re planning to (or have already started a professional charity organization), or are planning a philanthropic program within an already existing organization, we encourage you to collaborate with our Center!

For additional information about the Center for Community Philanthropy and if you have any proposals regarding possible cooperation we ask that you refer to:

Lesia Zhuk

Program manager

Ukraine Citizen Action Network (UCAN) project

Kyiv, 3-7 Kyianivskyi Lane, 2^nd Fl., UCAN Suite

Tel/ Fax: (0 44) 272 35 64, 272 27 82; lesia@ucan-isc.org.ua; www.ucan-isc.org.ua