This week marks the International Day of Charity. To celebrate it, we’re shining a light on how TFN International is mobilising communities across the world to achieve social change.  

Our international programme was launched in 2012 with support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and later supported by the Marie-Louise von Motesiczky Charitable Trust and the Fredrick Mulder Foundation as well. The goal was to train and support civil society organisations around the world on our model of philanthropy. Through collective giving, local organisations are able to democratise funding and empower their communities to shape their future.  

We partner with local community foundations and institutions, as they are the ones best placed to know the needs and support their community. Through individual training, site visits to London (when possible) and peer learning, we teach dozens of organisations globally on how to run their own giving circles.  

Besides supporting local groups, we also take part in international collaboration initiatives with organisations like Philanthropy Together, and are represented in international conferences like Encuentro Annual de Fundaciones Comunitarias in Spain and Shift The Power Global Summit in Bogotá.  

Our newest international affiliate, Fundació Tot Raval in Barcelona, hosted their first event in June this year with over €40,000 raised for three local projects.   

To kick-start new giving circles, we offer our partners up to three £1,750 starter grants, funded by the Frederick Mulder Foundation.  

Today we’re active in more than 20 countries spread across six continents, including Australia, Colombia, Spain, Romania, Latvia and Türkiye. To date, there have been over 350 events supporting more than 1,300 charities globally. And together, these events have raised over £9m!

Find out more about the programme and check all our international affiliates here.