Background

The Civil Society Development Foundation (CSDF) was launched in 1994 as an international "train-the-trainer" program with the long-run goal to create indigenous training and support institutions dedicated to nurturing the growth of the emerging civil societies of East Central Europe. The program was initiated by two internationally acknowledged researchers and NGO activists, Jenny Yancey and Daniel Siegel, who had been examining the revival of the nonprofit sectors in the region for several years. They developed the program concept on the basis of a number of interviews conducted with Hungarian and Polish experts and young activists, thus involving know-how and experience already existing in these countries. Initial financial background was provided by private foundations in the United States. Jenny and Daniel worked in Hungary during the first two years of the program as international coordinators.

Programs and Services

The CSDF Hungary convenes forums to share knowledge and experience for the development of the nonprofit sector on a national and international scale. The Foundation regularly organizes nonprofit management Training Series in Budapest and in the countryside, residential week-long training courses (Summer and Winter Institutes), offers trainings tailored to the needs of individual organizations, provides follow-up consultancy and in-depth organizational development services. The CSDF also provides relevant publications on nonprofit management theories and techniques. Our regular networking events (Civil Café, Mészöly Street Workshop) aim to enhance sector-wide awareness and cooperation. The CSDF also runs projects to initiate and facilitate dialogue among the nonprofit, the business and the government sectors. The Bridging the Sectors Project provides training, publication and networking services to the representatives of all sectors, the Good Works Project offers technical help by recruiting volunteers for NGOs from businesses with the aim to help develop the culture of corporate community involvement in Hungary.

csdf@mail.c3.hu.