A strong civil society is built upon, and draws its strength from people who work together for the betterment of that society. One expression of this concept, of helping people for the common good can be found at the local level in community philanthropy. Community philanthropy refers to the act of individual citizens contributing money and goods or volunteering their time and skills to promote the well being of others and the betterment of the community in which they live. This sprit of generosity is practiced by people of all backgrounds and by those of all economic means.

These community philanthropy practices contribute to social cohesion within communities and illustrate how working together on a collective basis can accomplish more than acting alone and build trust between divided communities.

In this time of globalization, people see that governments have not been able to deliver on what communities need for just and better life. Community leaders realize that there is need for more community based mechanisms which will not only respond creatively to local needs, but will also make an impact on policy making related to their local needs such as supply of electricity, transport, water sewerage etc. which directly impact on their life and the community. Communities are looking for multi faceted interventions, which will not just fill the gaps, but also serve to strengthen social fabric, and crate informal networks that provide support to members of the community – a replacement for traditional community institutions that have eroded over time.

In the West and elsewhere, a new kind of organization has taken root linking community philanthropy with community development. Called the Community Foundation, it builds on indigenous practices of charitable giving and connects these resources to development needs at the local level.

A community Foundation is a vehicle for people of all means to make a lasting difference in their community. The central purpose of a Community Foundation is to serve the needs and philanthropic aims of donors who wish to better their community, now and in the future, whole also providing a pool of local funds for those who are working for the betterment of their community.

The Community Foundation uses a name, mission statement and a plan to express its intentions to benefit the region. It strives to develop community as a sense of place. Resting on the values of freedom and pluralism, a Community Foundation is non-partisan, non-political, and provides a forum for discussion of ideas and a place to design and test solutions to community problems. It actively involves people and groups to increase participation and expand the base of leadership for addressing local issues. One of its most important tasks is to help develop local leadership – individuals with vision, confidence and courage and the communication skills to work cooperatively with others towards common goals.

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