charitable foundation
A foundation (also a charitable foundation) is a category of nonprofit organization or charitable trust that typically provides funding and support for other charitable organizations through grants, but may also engage directly in charitable act ...
located in
Prague
Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...
,
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
.
The Via Foundation provides small grants and expertise to non-profit community initiatives in the Czech Republic. Where 50 years of totalitarian government dampened people's initiative, the Via Foundation now supports peoples' efforts to improve their communities through a variety of programs and activities.
Mission
The Via Foundation supports and strengthens public participation in the development of a democratic society in the Czech Republic.
This includes:
* Supporting the growth of
nonprofit organizations
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
.
* Developing the culture of
philanthropy
Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...
in the Czech Republic.
* Supporting the cooperation between non-profit organizations, local authorities, and local businesses.
History
In 1997, the Via Foundation was created as the indigenous successor to the Foundation for a Civil Society. Since then Via has supported over 1650 community projects in over 260 cities, towns and villages.
The name "Via" (Latin for "path") was chosen to evoke the image of a common path towards a vibrant, active, and democratic society.
Via Bona Award for Philanthropy
2007 marks the 10th year of the Via Foundation’s annual Via Bona Award for Philanthropy. The award acknowledges exemplary philanthropy of companies and individuals who have a history of strong support of the work of non-profit organizations in the Czech Republic.
The Via Bona awards are presented each September at a ceremony held at the residence of the
United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic
The diplomatic post of United States ambassador to the Czech Republic was created after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia and the United States recognizing the new nation of the Czech Republic on January 1, 1993.
In June 1992, the Slovak parli ...
in
Prague
Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...
. The Via Bona Award is given to those who serve as an example to others through their material and financial support, as well as their willingness to tread untried paths. These donors move the Czech Republic ever closer to the renewal of a healthy tradition of giving and philanthropy.
The Via Bona Awards are made possible with the support of
Citibank
Citibank, N. A. (N. A. stands for " National Association") is the primary U.S. banking subsidiary of financial services multinational Citigroup. Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, and later became First National City ...
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is a private foundation founded in 1926 by Charles Stewart Mott of Flint, Michigan. Mott was a leading industrialist in Flint through his association with General Motors.
The foundation administers funds thr ...
, the
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is an American private foundation with the stated goal of advancing human welfare. Created in 1936 by Edsel Ford and his father Henry Ford, it was originally funded by a US$25,000 gift from Edsel Ford. By 1947, after the death ...
, the
German Marshall Fund of the United States
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a nonpartisan American public policy think tank that seeks to promote cooperation and understanding between North America and the European Union.
Founded in 1972 through a gift from the We ...
, the
Open Society Institute
Open Society Foundations (OSF), formerly the Open Society Institute, is a grantmaking network founded and chaired by business magnate George Soros. Open Society Foundations financially supports civil society groups around the world, with a sta ...
Rockefeller Brothers Fund
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) is a philanthropic foundation created and run by members of the Rockefeller family. It was founded in New York City in 1940 as the primary philanthropic vehicle for the five third-generation Rockefeller brothe ...
.
In the period 2001-2005, the CEE Trust had three mutually reinforcing objectives:
* To support legal, fiscal and political environments in which civil societies can flourish;
* To strengthen the nonprofit sectors in the target countries through institutional capacity building; and
* To support the long-term financial sustainability of nonprofit organizations.
The CEE Trust Board of Directors selected the Via Foundation as its regional partner and allocated US$3,000,000 to the program in the Czech Republic for a three-year period between 2002-2005.
TechSoup Česká republika
On December 12, 2010, the Via Foundation and
Charter 77
Charter 77 (''Charta 77'' in Czech and Slovak) was an informal civic initiative in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic from 1976 to 1992, named after the document Charter 77 from January 1977. Founding members and architects were Jiří Něm ...
jointly launched partnership with the US-based nonprofit organization,
TechSoup
TechSoup, founded in 1987 as CompuMentor and later known as TechSoup Global, is a nonprofit international network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provides technical support and technological tools to other nonprofits.
History
...
. The project aims to provide technology to qualified Czech nonprofit and civic organizations through the websit www.techsoup.cz
Prague Post
''The Prague Post'' was an English language newspaper covering the Czech Republic and Central and Eastern Europe which published its first weekly issue on October 1, 1991. It published a printed edition weekly until July 2013, when it dropped th ...
'' article about the Via Foundation's Via Bona Award for Philanthropy by Kathleen Kralowec. Giving Back to Their Homelands May 16, 200 ''Chronicle of Philanthropy'' article about "diaspora giving" by Stephen G. Greene.
United States Ambassador Richard W. Graber's Remarks at the American Chamber of Commerce (Prague) Speakers' Series Breakfast February 14, 2007.
Community Philanthropy Initiative Czech Republic Overview European Foundation Center report on community foundations in the Czech Republic.
* "Novou náves nám závidějí lidé ze širokého okolí" February 8, 200 ''Moderní obec'' article about a Via Foundation-supported project in Vlkov, Czech Republic by Helena Rezková (in Czech).
* "Lidé z ghetta si sami opravují dům" January 16, 2007 ''
Idealist.org
Action Without Borders (also known as Idealist) is a non-profit service organization based in New York City, founded in 1995 by Ami Dar. The group has offices in the United States and Argentina.
History
Founder Ami Dar was interested in s ...