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The primary activities during the initial period include:
Friendraising (Beginning January 2007)
They will present the need for a
Montenegro Foundation and the concept behind it to potential organizational
and individual partners, and cultivate individual leaders from business,
local government, universities and NGOs who will become "Champions" for the
cause to create the Foundation. These stakeholders and community leaders,
who represent different geographic areas and ethnic groups within Montenegro
and who possess credibility within their communities, will work together as
volunteers to build this mission-driven enterprise by advocating with
government, attracting potential donors, and making up the founding Board of
Directors.
Fundraising (Beginning February 2007)
The Foundation's volunteer
Champions, with their American supporters, will raise funds to operate the
Foundation, hire one motivated and capable staff member, and expose its
Board and donors to individuals who have created successful Foundations in
newly democratic European nations. Time and resources will be focused on
developing a cohesive Board and staff, and building their relationships with
others. And policies for the Foundation to receive, invest and grant funds
with transparency and efficiency will be established.
Initial funding has likely come from the Diaspora of Montenegrins in the
U.S. who have experience with a community foundation and the resources and
desire to positively impact their homeland. We will also look to foreign
investors seeking recognition from the government, citizens and media;
donors from within the country who are approached by a Champion known to
them; and international funding organizations. In addition to supporting the
Foundation's very modest operational costs, these funds will establish an
endowment and a matching program to demonstrate the value of locally
controlled grantmaking, create awareness and excitement about the cause, and
change attitudes and tax laws to attract donors from the general public.
Requests for funding began in Los Angeles in February at a dinner hosted by
Montenegrin restaurant owner Goran Milic. With this funding, which went to a
new Montenegro Foundation established in California, Milic has developed a
program that began in early August at the orphanage "Mladost" in Bijela in
the Bay of Kotor. With the assistance of renowned chefs from Italy, Milic is
training orphans about to graduate from high school to work as chefs in the
tourism industry. Their training in will be followed by an internship in
Italy or the U.S., and upon their return, positions have been guaranteed by
leading Montenegrin restaurants.
Grantmaking (Beginning 2008)
Effective grantmaking is just as challenging as fundraising because it requires that Foundation staff possess knowledge
of the various and changing needs and assets within the country, conduct
research on grantees, and evaluate their results. In order to build a track
record of success and reliability among donors and grantees, the Foundation
Board and staff will aim to begin making grants in 2008 on a strategic and
limited basis. At this early stage, it is proposed that grantmaking focus
on three areas:
1) Protecting and enhancing Montenegro's natural and cultural assets that
attract foreign investment;
2) Educating and training Montenegrins so that they may meaningfully
participate in their new economy; and
3) Developing and sustaining that country's civil society institutions,
including NGOs and the media.
Building Bridges and Advocacy (Beginning Spring 2008)
Another community
foundation role that is especially important in an emerging democracy, is to
serve as a catalyst for communication, partnerships, and trust among the
different sectors of civil society (NGOs, media, government, business and
individuals). One type of facilitation that the Foundation will likely focus
on during 2007 is advocacy with government. Other European countries have
seen the benefits of adopting laws that provide tax incentives to
corporations and individuals who contribute to NGOs - their culture of
philanthropy and civil institutions have advanced. To accomplish this in
Montenegro, the Foundation plans to work with the European Center for
Not-for-Profit Law and the Montenegro Business Alliance.
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Download pdf document about Montenegro
Foundation (right click, "save target as")
Old walls in the coast of Montenegro
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