In January 2024, six new organizations joined Act Locally Centers Network (ALC) with the status of Affiliated ALC. Thus, the Network comprises now 80 organizations from all over Poland which cover 676 rural communes and municipalities of up to 20,000 residents and annually announce local grant competitions under the “Act Locally” program.
Act Locally Centers are reliable, innovative and experienced NGOs that at the same time act as local animation centers. They are apolitical and cooperate with various local partners to enhance social capital. Implementing the “Act Locally” program they carry out grant programs, social and fundraising campaigns, consulting and training activities, promotion and development of local volunteering, as well as establish contacts with donors, business partners, local governments, NGOs and civic groups.
“Every couple of years we run an open enrollment and increase the ALC Network with new organizations. Applying foundations and associations take part in a two-stage recruitment procedure. During this enrollment, we carried out almost 40 hours of interviews with over a dozen candidates. Finally, the independent experts selected six organizations that best met the “Act Locally” program criteria. They are experienced, professionally acting NGOs and through cooperation with them, we will be able to reach new local communities,” “Act Locally” Coordinator Paweł Zań explains.
The following organizations joined ALC Network in 2024:
- Fundacja „Żywa Przestrzeń” [Living Space Foundation](Bryńsk, Warmińsko-Mazurskie province),
- Stowarzyszenie „Dolina Noteci” [Noteć Valley Association[(Chodzież, Wielkopolskie province),
- Stowarzyszenie Lokalna Grupa Działania „Kraina Rawki” [Association of Rawka Region Act Locally Group](Stara Rossocha, Łódzkie province),
- Stowarzyszenie Lokalna Grupa Działania Chełmno [Association of Chełmno Act Locally Group] (Chełmno, Kujawsko-Pomorskie province),
- Stowarzyszenie Wrota Wielkopolski [Gate to Wielkopolska Association](Baranów, Wielkopolskie province),
- Związek Stowarzyszeń Centrum Aktywności [Associations of Activity Centers Union (Mikołów, Śląskie province).
They will soon take part in the training session on the “Act Locally” program standards and procedures. Enrollment to local competitions will be carried out from March to June; the Centers will inform about them on their own.
The main objective of the “Act Locally” program is to stimulate activity of local communities. Thanks to civic projects, the program enhances social capital, stimulates development aspirations and improves quality of life in rural areas and small towns. To date, over 15,000 local projects were implemented by 5.3 million participants, including ca. 251,000 volunteers.
The “Act Locally” program is an initiative of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation. Since 2000 it has been managed by the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland in cooperation with the Act Locally Centers Network.
