On 15.12.2022, the Philanthropy Forum was held organized by Konekt and the network for financial sustainability as part of the USAID Donation Partnerships Project. This is an annual gathering of national leaders in philanthropy and includes representatives of the business community, institutions, and civil organizations, including the YMCA, who shared experiences and created models for enhanced cooperation. Konekt’s research shows that half of the companies donate during the year which is an indication that there is significant philanthropic potential in our country. In terms of donating funds from citizens this year 2022, Macedonia rose to a solid 25th place compared to 75th in 2013 according to the ranking of the World Giving Index. At a time when unpredictable events in the world fill our daily lives, and the future is full of uncertainty, it is the right time for philanthropy to take its rightful place as a driver of positive change in the community. The forum presented the global trends and influences of philanthropy and put that point of view in a Macedonian perspective. “As individuals, business owners, and managers, many of us open our wallets to support friends, family, and people who seek our emergency help. But when thought out and targeted for the benefit of the wider community, donations have the power to improve conditions in the long term and contribute to the well-being of society. We are creating donation partnerships to enable increased donations, real incentives for donors, and easy and fun ways to donate that will enable all citizens and companies to be part of the changes for a better tomorrow.” The Executive Director of “Konekt”, Ms. Nikica Kusinikova, pointed out. The forum discussed overcoming the challenges to shape a favorable environment for increased donating in the function of accelerated development. The participants showed a willingness to nurture partnerships for donating, work on a better legal framework, become members of the Club of Responsible Businesses, and educate themselves about philanthropy and social responsibility, and the announced online platform for group donations aroused interest. This forum was organized by the USAID Donation Partnerships project, implemented by Connect, in partnership with the European Center for Non-Profit Law, the Chamber of Commerce of Northwest Macedonia, Indigo, and the American Chamber of Commerce in the Republic of North Macedonia.Photos from the event can be seen here and here.
On 07.02.2022, 17 civil society organizations got acquainted with the standards of the Label of Trust and the benefits of using it through an online presentation. Among them was the YMCA youth association with its representative. The trust mark is a self-regulatory system that aims to make it easier for citizens and companies to choose trustworthy organizations to which they can donate. It strives to increase long-term trust between civil society organizations (CSOs) and local donors. The label is obtained through a carefully created process and criteria for transparency, accountability, performance results, compliance with legal regulations, etc. Civil organizations that possess the trust mark are good partners of citizens, but also other stakeholders in the community. Why donate to an organization that holds the label of trust? To acquire the label of trust, a CSO has to adhere to a certain set of principles and criteria in the following areas: To receive the trust mark, civil organizations first perform a self-assessment, that is, they fill out a questionnaire for the evaluation of their work, and then the board of the trust mark checks all the documentation and additional meetings with the CSO. At this link, you can view the application guide for obtaining the designation. At the end of this process, the Board decides whether the CSO will receive the trust mark.
On February 2, 2022, the constitutive session of the local Youth Council took place in Bitola Municipality. In addition to its project contributions, the YMCA actively engages in the city by participating in the local Volunteering Council. Now, the YMCA extends its involvement in the Youth Council with Ivana assuming the role of President. We extend our best wishes to her and the entire team for success! Ivana Atanasovska was chosen as the Youth Council President from two candidates. Mayor Toni Konjanovski addressed the nine council members, expressing hopes for their future endeavors and encouraging the generation of constructive ideas and proposals. These efforts aim to retain youth in the city and collaborate with local self-government to improve the Municipality’s future. Gabriela Ilievska, the Council President, conveyed her belief that the well-known saying “youth is our future” will be substantiated through the Youth Council’s actions, demonstrating the significant impact young individuals can make in preventing the emigration of their peers. Both the Council President and the Mayor stressed the Municipality’s readiness for continuous collaboration with the Youth Council, anticipating numerous initiatives and projects within legal constraints. For additional photos, refer to the following link.
On 15.12.2022, the Philanthropy Forum was held organized by Konekt and the network for financial sustainability as part of the USAID Donation Partnerships Project. This is an annual gathering of national leaders in philanthropy and includes representatives of the business community, institutions, and civil organizations, including the YMCA, who shared experiences and created models for enhanced cooperation. Konekt’s research shows that half of the companies donate during the year which is an indication that there is significant philanthropic potential in our country. In terms of donating funds from citizens this year 2022, Macedonia rose to a solid 25th place compared to 75th in 2013 according to the ranking of the World Giving Index. At a time when unpredictable events in the world fill our daily lives, and the future is full of uncertainty, it is the right time for philanthropy to take its rightful place as a driver of positive change in the community. The forum presented the global trends and influences of philanthropy and put that point of view in a Macedonian perspective. “As individuals, business owners, and managers, many of us open our wallets to support friends, family, and people who seek our emergency help. But when thought out and targeted for the benefit of the wider community, donations have the power to improve conditions in the long term and contribute to the well-being of society. We are creating donation partnerships to enable increased donations, real incentives for donors, and easy and fun ways to donate that will enable all citizens and companies to be part of the changes for a better tomorrow.” The Executive Director of “Konekt”, Ms. Nikica Kusinikova, pointed out. The forum discussed overcoming the challenges to shape a favorable environment for increased donating in the function of accelerated development. The participants showed a willingness to nurture partnerships for donating, work on a better legal framework, become members of the Club of Responsible Businesses, and educate themselves about philanthropy and social responsibility, and the announced online platform for group donations aroused interest. This forum was organized by the USAID Donation Partnerships project, implemented by Connect, in partnership with the European Center for Non-Profit Law, the Chamber of Commerce of Northwest Macedonia, Indigo, and the American Chamber of Commerce in the Republic of North Macedonia.Photos from the event can be seen here and here. 
On 07.02.2022, 17 civil society organizations got acquainted with the standards of the Label of Trust and the benefits of using it through an online presentation. Among them was the YMCA youth association with its representative. The trust mark is a self-regulatory system that aims to make it easier for citizens and companies to choose trustworthy organizations to which they can donate. It strives to increase long-term trust between civil society organizations (CSOs) and local donors. The label is obtained through a carefully created process and criteria for transparency, accountability, performance results, compliance with legal regulations, etc. Civil organizations that possess the trust mark are good partners of citizens, but also other stakeholders in the community. Why donate to an organization that holds the label of trust? To acquire the label of trust, a CSO has to adhere to a certain set of principles and criteria in the following areas: To receive the trust mark, civil organizations first perform a self-assessment, that is, they fill out a questionnaire for the evaluation of their work, and then the board of the trust mark checks all the documentation and additional meetings with the CSO. At this link, you can view the application guide for obtaining the designation. At the end of this process, the Board decides whether the CSO will receive the trust mark. 
On February 2, 2022, the constitutive session of the local Youth Council took place in Bitola Municipality. In addition to its project contributions, the YMCA actively engages in the city by participating in the local Volunteering Council. Now, the YMCA extends its involvement in the Youth Council with Ivana assuming the role of President. We extend our best wishes to her and the entire team for success! Ivana Atanasovska was chosen as the Youth Council President from two candidates. Mayor Toni Konjanovski addressed the nine council members, expressing hopes for their future endeavors and encouraging the generation of constructive ideas and proposals. These efforts aim to retain youth in the city and collaborate with local self-government to improve the Municipality’s future. Gabriela Ilievska, the Council President, conveyed her belief that the well-known saying “youth is our future” will be substantiated through the Youth Council’s actions, demonstrating the significant impact young individuals can make in preventing the emigration of their peers. Both the Council President and the Mayor stressed the Municipality’s readiness for continuous collaboration with the Youth Council, anticipating numerous initiatives and projects within legal constraints. For additional photos, refer to the following link. 