Bucharest, January 31, 2024 – The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation invites NGOs on Friday, February 9, to CONFER – a networking, best practice exchange and collaborative network event, taking place in Bucharest at Casa Siqua, between 11:00 AM and 5:30 PM. The event aims to bring together experts from the non-profit sector to present effective strategies and methods for mobilizing communities around sustainable projects, while also creating a space for NGOs to share successful experiences and community fundraising best practices.
The CONFER project – Strengthening Non-Governmental Organizations through Fundraising and Increasing Results Efficiency – is implemented by The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation in partnership with Nedland Kultur, with financial support from Active Citizens Fund Romania, a program funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014–2021.
Participation in the CONFER event is free of charge, within the limit of 50 seats, for any organization in the social, educational, or cultural field. Registration is available via the Participation Form until February 7.
The CONFER event represents a concrete step toward strengthening the non-profit community, providing essential tools and knowledge to address current challenges. The event will include panel presentations with special guests from Romania’s non-profit and corporate social responsibility sectors. It also encourages networking, collaboration, and the exchange of best practices among project partner organizations and similar NGOs through group activities and round-table discussions.
By inviting experts, the event aims to equip NGOs with essential tools and knowledge to mobilize communities around their causes and diversify their funding sources. Topics will include organizational strategy and online marketing, public funding sources, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations. Guest experts from the corporate sector will share valuable insights and advice to support participating organizations in achieving their objectives.
The event will create a platform for interaction and learning among NGOs, facilitating the exchange of experiences and ideas regarding fundraising strategies, funding diversification, and financial sustainability.
The CONFER project was initiated to support social and educational projects in rural and small urban areas with limited budgets and dependent on a single funding source. Following a public call, 12 NGOs operating in underserved areas across the counties of Alba, Arad, Buzău, Covasna, Cluj, Ilfov, Maramureș, Mureș, Teleorman, and Timiș were selected to strengthen their capacity and sustainability.
Throughout the 22 months of the project, The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation has provided beneficiary organizations with the opportunity to be part of a complex organizational transformation process, aimed at strengthening their capacity to mobilize funds and promote their social causes within their communities, with the support of a team of experts with extensive experience in fundraising and communication. The program included training and mentoring in fundraising, digital communication, and grant writing; coaching for strategy development; tools and techniques for fundraising; digital transformation through website development, social media, and promotional materials; organization of online and offline communication campaigns; implementation of good governance and intergenerational practices methodologies; streamlining internal procedures; and organizing networking events and donor cultivation activities.
The purpose of the CONFER project aligns with the mission of The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation to discover and inspire leaders to create sustainable and autonomous communities. The Foundation has supported participating NGOs with tools and knowledge to mobilize communities around their causes.
More information about the Networking and Best Practice Exchange and Collaborative Event agenda and registration details is available on the CONFER project webpage.
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About the Active Citizens Fund Romania Program
Active Citizens Fund Romania is financed through the EEA Grants 2014–2021. The overall objective of the Grants is to reduce economic and social disparities and strengthen bilateral relations between the 15 beneficiary states and the donor states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway). The program is managed by a consortium composed of the Civil Society Development Foundation, the Partnership Foundation, the Resource Center for Roma Communities, the PACT Foundation, and Frivillighet Norge, acting as the Fund Operator designated by the Financial Mechanism Office (FMO) of the EEA and Norway Grants. Active Citizens Fund Romania aims to strengthen civil society and active citizenship and to increase the capacity of vulnerable groups. With a total allocation of 46,000,000 Euros, the program seeks the long-term development of the sustainability and capacity of the civil society sector, enhancing its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship, and human rights, while strengthening bilateral relations with Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. For more information about Active Citizens Fund in Romania, please visit www.activecitizensfund.ro. For more information about the EEA and Norway Grants, please visit www.eeagrants.ro.
About The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation
The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation was established in 1990 by King Michael I of Romania and Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown. With over 32 years of activity, the Foundation supports children, youth, and elderly people through sustainable interventions based on the exchange of experience and values between generations. Over the years, the Foundation has been involved in numerous social, cultural, and educational projects, as well as initiatives supporting artistic talent. More details are available at fundatiaregala.ro/.
About Nedland Kultur
Nedland Kultur is a private company from Norway with over 20 years of experience in cultural projects, intercultural collaborations, concert and festival organization, music digitization, and more. The company has implemented projects in Norway, the United Kingdom, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Malawi, Russia, Palestine, Israel, Vietnam, Egypt, and Romania. More details are available at www.nedlandkultur.com.
