News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The second edition of the International Fundraising Conference will take place on 18 June 2026 in Sofia, bringing together civil society leaders, fundraising professionals, and corporate representatives from across Europe. Organised by the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL) and initiated by Fundraising Club Bulgaria, the event focuses on “Fundraising in Times of Courage,” highlighting
Read more →Philea, through the Journalism Funders Forum, has released a new report examining how philanthropic organisations are funding journalism and media in Europe. The study highlights that while the field is widely recognised as essential for democracy, accountability, and countering misinformation, it receives only a small portion of philanthropic budgets. Despite this, there is a slow
Read more →The proposed Global Europe Instrument (GEI) for the EU’s 2028–2034 budget signals a major shift toward investment-driven external action, moving away from traditional development approaches. Drawing on lessons from the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), experts warn that blending and guarantee-based tools often fail to deliver meaningful results, particularly for the most vulnerable
Read more →A recent commentary highlights the growing role of philanthropy in protecting democracy and civic space amid increasing pressure on CSOs and non-profit actors. Philanthropic institutions have faced political accusations and attempts to restrict support for human rights, democracy, and civic initiatives. Despite these pressures, philanthropy has developed strategies to strengthen sector resilience, including increased and
Read more →The Resilio Fund is promoting a new model of crisis response that places local communities at the centre of humanitarian action. The initiative argues that international aid systems can sometimes be slow, inefficient, and risk creating long-term dependency, while failing to strengthen community resilience. By prioritising grassroots participation, the fund aims to position local populations
Read more →Philea analyses the legal and policy environment shaping philanthropy across Europe through coordinated research at national, EU, and global levels. Working with national experts, it tracks developments affecting how foundations and charitable organisations operate. A key output is the study Comparative Highlights of Foundation Laws, offering a comparative overview of legal and fiscal frameworks for
Read more →The European Research Network on Philanthropy (ERNOP) has announced the forthcoming release of Philanthropy in Europe, a comprehensive, cross-national mapping of philanthropic giving across 20 European countries. The study provides the most extensive comparative overview of philanthropy currently available in Europe, revealing that while giving plays a substantial and diverse role in societies, there are
Read more →A landmark 2025 study, “Safeguarding in Philanthropy: Safer Grant-Making for Greater Impact,” by Accountable Now and the Funder Safeguarding Collaborative, reveals that while global grant-makers are increasingly prioritizing safety, significant gaps remain between policy and practice. Drawing on insights from 87 funders and nearly 300 grantees, the report warns that many organizations still treat safeguarding
Read more →With global USAID’s withdrawal in 2025, donors such as the EU, Switzerland, and Norway have become increasingly important in North Macedonia, though concerns remain about gaps in funding. Over 25 years, USAID funded projects that combined financial support with local contributions, rebuilding schools and supporting vocational training, creating lasting community engagement and capacity-building impacts across
Read more →The European Union’s forthcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034 will shape the bloc’s ability to address global challenges, including poverty reduction, gender equality, climate resilience, and peacebuilding. Central to the MFF’s external dimension is the Global Europe Fund, the EU’s primary instrument for development cooperation and external action. A new analysis by CONCORD highlights
Read more →The President of the United States has issued a memorandum directing all executive departments and agencies to withdraw from and end support for 66 international organisations and bodies, following a review mandated by Executive Order 14199 of 4 February 2025. After considering the findings of the Secretary of State and consultations with the Cabinet, the
Read more →The potential new US National Security Strategy (NSS) signals a major threat to civic space and the international donor environment due to its “America First” approach. The NSS prioritizes transactional deals and “authoritarian accommodation,” while explicitly aiming to “cultivate resistance” in Europe by backing ethno-nationalist parties and framing progressive civil society as “suppression of political
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