Romania

Fagaras Research Institute

The Fagaras Research Institute is a research & community-based organisation and was established in 2017, with its headquarters in Fagaras, Romania.

Key topics of the Institute are community philanthropy and the SDGs, civil society sector sustainability, local–global interactions, philanthropy, civil society, and power and security dynamics.

(Research) questions guiding their work are, among others:

• How do community foundations and other forms of community philanthropy contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals at the local level?
• How do local communities engage with and respond to global challenges, and what role does philanthropy play in mediating local–global interactions?
• How do local communities and philanthropic organisations operate in contexts of social, economic, or environmental unsustainability, and which strategies support resilience and long-term sustainability?

Research Center for Civil Society

The Research Center for Civil Society is a association and research and civil society knowledge organisation and was established in 2022, with its headquarters in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 

Key topics of the Center are individual giving, civil society, civic engagement, impact measurement, and democracy.

(Research) questions guiding their work are, among others:

• What are the main organisational, financial, and programmatic characteristics of foundations in Romania today, and how are these patterns evolving?
• How do secular and religious foundations in Romania differ (and align) in their target audiences, thematic priorities, values, and strategies for mobilising support?
• What restrictive measures affecting civil society and philanthropy are used in other European or international contexts, and how do these compare with the regulatory and political environment in Romania?
• What factors shape public and institutional trust in NGOs in Romania, and how do trust dynamics differ across age groups (e.g., youth versus older cohorts)?
• How can data on individual giving, fundraising, and volunteering in Romania be aligned with European methodologies to improve reliability, comparability, and cross-national learning?