If you believe that this is community philanthropy’s moment, don’t miss the Stories for Change Online Festival on 15 January 2026!
Stories for Change is an initiative of the Giving for Change programme, which over the last five years has tested new approaches to supporting and growing community philanthropy in eight countries in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. The programme, closing on 31 December 2025, was funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As the programme wraps up, Giving for Change partners have come together to offer Stories for Change: a global campaign that celebrates and champions the transformative power of community philanthropy. This will culminate in the Stories for Change Online Festival on 15 January 2026 – save the date and register to attend here!
The Festival will showcase the work of the 11 partners in the Giving for Change programme, and will also feature films and stories from allies across the wider #ShiftThePower movement. The day itself will comprise of two two-hour sessions with screenings of short videos made during the Giving for Change programme, panel and discussion sessions, poetry, music and much more!
The theme of the Festival is: the time for community philanthropy is now. Why? This is due to the complex nature of our fast changing world, because of increasingly authoritarian governments in many countries and the resulting shrinking of civic space and repression faced by so many, harsh cuts to development funding, as well as the climate crisis and extreme weather. These are challenging times – and community philanthropy is needed now more than ever. The Stories for ChangeOnline Festival will bring this collective voice together on one platform to tell a new kind of story: one about power, agency, voice and action.
Why stories? Stories matter. They change minds, spread ideas and build movements. Join the conversation – please follow Stories for Change via the GFCF LinkedIn page or on Instagram @storiesforchangeglobal.
#TheStoryIsOurs
#TheTimeIsNow
#StoriesForChange
#ShiftThePower
#CommunityPhilanthropy