It’s not about “opportunities in crisis”, it’s about survival, adaptation and realism

Vaclav Havel, the Czech dissident, playwright and president, said: “Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something is worth doing no matter how it turns out.”

While we are in a cycle of retreating democracy, shrinking civic space and funding cuts, we are observing stubborn organisations and individuals that go against the flow across the European continent. They continuously support courageous voices and initiatives that work towards more equitable and fair societies.

The current developments remind us that we can no longer take for granted the freedom for philanthropy to do its job. However, we need to be aware: Who is taking care of the playing field for people and organisations to experience the joy and responsibility of giving and sharing? How do they nurture their hope for a vibrant philanthropic culture amid political turmoil and threatening environment?

Philanthropy infrastructure in action

Philea, as a community of diverse players in the philanthropic sector, in addition to around 230 foundations and philanthropic organisations, also brings together 26 philanthropy infrastructure organisations, which mostly represent national associations of foundations.

These umbrella organisations advocate for an enabling environment for philanthropy (such as Philanthropy Ireland achieving the first of its kind National Philanthropy Policy in Europe), provide research and insights on philanthropy (such as the Foundation Knowledge Center in Denmark), build connections and partnerships among actors (see ACF’s Funders Collaborative Hub), encourage more courageous philanthropic practices (for example Assifero’s Future Chair campaign), and build culture of giving (see ARC Romania’s digital infrastructure for giving Picdebine.ro)

Since 2023, in recognition of the specificity of infrastructure needs in Central and Eastern Europe, Philea has been hosting a dedicated space for over 80 philanthropy infrastructure practitioners in the region. This exchange was filled with a feeling of a new world emerging: the scarcity of resources and challenging external environment are calling for infrastructure practitioners to be as resourceful and creative as they might never have been before.

The unmaking of the “sacred triangle” and what comes next

Philanthropy infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe has historically relied on a “sacred triangle” – the interplay of the state, philanthropy and civil society. This triangle created an enabling environment: the rule of law protected freedom of association; the state ensured financial incentives and legitimacy; and philanthropy, in turn, supported a vibrant NGO ecosystem. While never perfect, this system provided a degree of predictability, protection and shared purpose.

But today, that triangle is cracking – if not collapsing. Across Central and Eastern Europe, the state is increasingly retreating from its supportive role and in many cases actively undermining it. In places like Hungary, Serbia or Slovakia, civil society and philanthropy are no longer seen as partners but as threats. “Foreign agent” laws, smear campaigns, funding cuts and the erosion of judicial independence are not isolated developments – they signal a deeper unmaking of the post-1989 institutional settlement.

Adding to this is a shift within philanthropic giving. Geographically, there is a marked pivot to the Global South – understandable in light of global inequalities, but abrupt for many in Central and Eastern Europe. Thematically, “trending” areas like climate, AI and journalism are pulling attention, and to a lesser degree resources, away from grassroots civil society. There is a feeling that philanthropies themselves are growing more institutionalised – slow to adapt, cautious at the board level, and often risk-averse in moments of political crisis. As this shift accelerates, the role of local philanthropy infrastructure becomes even more vital – and even more precarious.

How might philanthropy infrastructure step into its mighty power?

If political environments are growing hostile, and traditional funding pipelines are narrowing, philanthropy infrastructure must adapt and adapt fast. The good news is: it is already happening. Across Central and Eastern Europe, creative, bottom-up, and locally-rooted strategies are emerging to try to fill the gap.

At the Roots and Wings Foundation, a Hungarian-based philanthropy infrastructure organisation which supports the emergence and development of community foundations, the situation in the country has been forced to reimagine its entire approach to sustainability. There is no longer the “luxury” of relying on big funders, most of whom are either withdrawing from the region or shifting their priorities. Domestic corporate philanthropy is not a viable alternative either.

So, the organisation has turned to innovation:

• New programmes to attract different types of funders: Every new initiative is preceded by deep research, field mapping and small-scale pilots. Once the waters have been tested, the full implementation mode is on, ensuring both flexibility and strategic alignment.
• Alternative live crowdfunding campaigns: Tailored for companies, it is structured as a team-building event where corporate employees engage in real-time, participatory giving. It creates a giving culture, but also builds enthusiasm, connection and awareness – not just funds.
• Building diplomatic bridges: By partnering with embassies and chambers of commerce, tapping into networks of international business operating locally can offer a way to create neutral, politically safe entry points into corporate philanthropy.
• Building networks among grantees: Unlocking resources together with grassroots leaders, who are often closer to the communities and support systems, allows for amplifying each other’s power through a community.
• Assertive approach to international cooperation and grant applications: Despite intense competition, with the space being more crowded than ever, international partnerships may be one of the few remaining growth paths. Even when success rates are low, the process builds capacity, visibility and new relationships.

Keeping the long-term perspective

In the face of deepening constraints and shifting global priorities, organisations like the Roots and Wings Foundation is not merely focused on survival – they are investing in resilience, innovation, and the power of the local. The choice to be hopeful and forward-looking inspired them to their most ambitious step yet – to launch the Future Fund: a pooled, long-term funding initiative designed to directly support grassroots civil society in Hungary. Rather than waiting for traditional philanthropy to return, the Future Fund channels flexible resources to those shaping community resilience from the ground up. It’s a bet on people, place, and solidarity. With public and private funding options rapidly disappearing , especially in light of Hungary’s proposed new law that could cut off both foreign and domestic support to NGOs, this might be the last opportunity to support a fund like this, and the future it protects.

Roots and Wings is not alone in building resilience through expanding its toolkit. Across the region, organisations are embracing crowdfunding (e.g., Catalyst Balkans, Centre for Philanthropy in Slovakia), engaging diaspora communities (Serbian Philanthropy Forum) and developing market-based products and services (like HIGGS in Greece or the National Network of Local Philanthropy Development in Ukraine). The case of the Bosnia and Herzegovina-based Mozaik Foundation shows that pivoting from donor dependency and a project-driven ethos is not only possible but creates new possibilities in pursuit of one’s mission.

These approaches are not just innovative, they are necessary. They represent a shift from dependency to agency. But let’s be clear: this is not an inspirational story about “opportunities in crisis.” It’s a story about survival, adaptation, and realism.

The infrastructure of philanthropy – once built to support growth – is now being called to safeguard resilience.