CONCLUSIONS
It is for this reason that we need to build, both early and on an ongoing basis, positive antibiotics for the destructive germs that each community harbours within itself. Above all, these antibiotics are represented by organizations and institutions that are founded on positive values, employ working methods that have evolved over time and are in line with local contexts and current developments. Italian community foundations have demonstrated that they are able to be all these things. They have shown that they are consistently able to gather and sustainably introduce positive initiatives within their local communities and advance the transformative approaches that our times demand.
A community foundation is … “An organization that is mindful of the needs and resources of the territory in which it is based, and links local stakeholders with the different necessities that arise. It is an entity that is able to build bridges, maintain relationships, put into motion long-term sustainable mechanisms for future generations, giving rise to lasting innovative processes.”
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Our hope is that – partly through the collective action coordinated by Assifero – community foundations continue to consolidate and multiply their experiences until this produces a positive epidemic of community philanthropy initiatives and experiences in Italy. Thanks in part to the first national conference of community foundations in late 2017, this is a challenge that we are confident will keep growing and become ever more shared among community foundations and with other stakeholders. It is also a challenge which Assifero and all of us individually will endeavour to support with as much energy, knowledge and passion as we can for many years to come.