Pesaro, with Assifero, becomes the Capital of Italian Community Philanthropy for two days. In fact, on 19 and 20 September the National Conference of Community Foundations 2024 organized by Assifero, at its VII edition, hosted this year in Pesaro, Italian Capital of Culture 2024from Wanda Di Ferdinando Foundation in collaboration with Community Foundation Fano Flaminia Cesano.
In a world with increasingly complex challenges to face, Financial resources are just one tool in foundations’ toolbox for promoting social change and achieve their mission. Today more than ever community foundations, 52 in Italy, in 11 Regions and 39 provinces according to the Guide 2023 made by Assifero – from Brescia to Messina, from Pesaro, to Naples, to Agrigento – they propose themselves to the country as territorial platforms, drivers of social change capable of shifting power and representation towards local communities and strengthening their participation. In fact, there are more than 18 million people who can activate in the territories involved.
A commitment that looks to the future of the country and philanthropy, with the theme of intergenerational dialogue at its core, a cornerstone of Assifero’s strategy with the Future Chair initiative: the Wanda di Ferdinando foundation, among the guests of the event, makes a call to the new generations from all over Italy collaboratingon the occasion of Pesaro Capital of Culture 2024, with Wayouta social promotion association made up of young people under 25 that create connections between opportunities and talent through training and orientation projects.
Pesaro Capital of Culture 2024 and Community Foundations
Over 850 in Europe, 52 in Italy according to the Guide 2023created by Assifero with the scientific support of AICCON and the contribution of the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation, Community Foundations are the great novelty of strategic philanthropy in our countrywith a new geographical distribution, thanks also to the role of some institutional donors who in recent years have believed in strong investments also in the South and Central Italy. There is no single definition, a specific model applicable and replicable at all levels: they are different in origin, size, mission and, obviously, communities of reference. Community philanthropy, however, has a strategic role in strengthening the voice of the communities themselves, facilitating the active participation of individuals.
Many of the main Italian experiences will be compared in Pesaro:
• the Community Foundation Saint Gennaro of Naples which managed to recover over 6 thousand square meters in the Rione Sanità of Naples between abandoned areas and works of art by mobilizing over 3.5 million euros for projects in the district;
• the Vicenza Community Foundation for Quality of Life, and will coordinate an interactive session on the methodology of foresight and Future Thinking, to imagine long-term strategies, both for foundations and for the communities involved;
• Rondine, Citadel for Peace – the Arezzo Foundation is committed for the reduction of armed conflicts in the world and the dissemination of its methodology, the so-called “Swallow Method”, for the creative transformation of conflict in every context for which, among other things, they create innovative teaching courses;
• Apennines Hubwhich accompanies communities and social enterprises for the development of economies that regenerate opportunities and quality of life, in all the Regions of Italy;
• Fondazione Comunità Agrigento e Trapani, which works with young people for young people and the wider community for the social, economic, cultural and environmental development of the provinces of Agrigento and Trapani;
• Fondazione Comunità Mirafiori, which works to move power and participation closer to the community and people of the Mirafiori neighborhood of Turin, a socioeconomically deprived area characterized by poor social vitality;
• Fondazione Comunità Porta Palazzo, which works to create spaces for protagonism and activate energies to improve the quality of life in Porta Palazzo, a Turin neighbourhood, promoting equity, freedom, beauty, social cohesion and equal opportunities;
• MeSSinA Foundation (Foundation of Sustainable and Solidarity Mediterranean Communities for Inclusion and Reception) which was born with the explicit objective of promoting urban and social metamorphoses through the organization of innovative policies capable of countering inequalities and climate change processes.
young people and the environment are the protagonists
Wanda Di Ferdinando Foundationwhich celebrates its tenth year of activity dedicated to valorising the voice and the gaze of minors and young people, in collaboration with Community Foundation Fano Flaminia Cesano, host the 2024 Community Foundations Conference but also contribute to important initiatives in the city of Pesaro, Capital of Culture 2024, guaranteeing a space as protagonists for girls and boys in defense of the environment.
• In October “Environmental festival” dedicated to water: a two-day event conceived, supported and coordinated by the Foundation and dedicated to caring for the planet, made up of walks, workshops and theatrical performances to foster a careful look at the future and the rights of future generations and of those who are already paying the consequences of the climate crisis. The 2024 edition, included among the activities of Botanica Partecipata of Pesaro2024 and scheduled for October, will be dedicated to the theme of water.
• The WAYouth educational marathons: LWAYouth ETS association (composed of under 25s)with the support of the Wanda Di Ferdinando ETS Foundation and the patronage of Pesaro 2024, will involve by the end of the year more than 200 students and high school students from all over Italy in five events: 3-day non-stop educational marathons which will lead young people to design innovative ideas starting from the key words “art, nature and technology”. The program will culminate in a national event in December.§
• +API – Flowering oases for biodiversity: The project is part of the initiatives promoted at a national level by Filiera Futura, an association that works throughout Italy to innovate the agri-food sector by promoting shared projects, of which the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Pesaro is an ordinary member. In the province of Pesaro Urbino in 2024 three honey oases were created, starting precious synergies with as many organizations that deal, respectively, with girls and boys, young students and people with disabilities. The entire community has been called to take up the challenge – interdependent and intergenerational – of environmental protection. A cultural center, an agricultural school, a socio-educational center have become outposts of the collective commitment to the care of present and future places.