Community Foundations in Indonesia: Strategies towards Their Development in a Faith-based Context

Amelia Fauzia, Senior Fellow, International Fellows Program ~ 2009

Abstract

Community foundations are gaining importance globally due to their ability to facilitate social change through grants. Many philanthropy organizations in the US retain their faith-based identity, although US legal definitions of community foundations support non-sectarianism. In her paper Amelia Fauzia explores community foundations within a faith-based context in order to find strategies for developing such foundations in Indonesia. She questions how community foundations deal with faith-based communities; if and how community foundations have adapted to faith-based giving and traditions, and what strategies can be used to integrate traditional faith-based philanthropy into the wider world of community foundations.

This research is qualitative, employing four case studies of community foundations or community foundation-like organizations including the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego and the Maadi Waqfiyat of Egypt. The paper proposes two distinct strategies for developing community foundations in Indonesia, the first for those with non-faith affiliation and the second for faith-based organizations. The second strategy is aimed toward transforming community-based Islamic philanthropic organizations in Indonesia into community foundations. Fauzia concludes her paper by recommending that Indonesia adopt regulations and incentives to promote the development of both faith-based and secular community foundations.

To request the full version of the paper, please click here.