Foundations' fundraiser and storyteller

The third sector, comprising millions of workers and volunteers, plays a vital role in addressing social and economic challenges in Europe. Its functions, including advocacy and value guardianship...

By implementing the FIRST project, our primary aim was to empower third sector entities, specifically foundations, to enhance their visibility and impact within the EU public space. We recognized the pressing need to redefine their identity and collaborative capacities, addressing issues such as a lack of common understanding across Europe regarding the third sector's role and an unawareness of shared attributes, values, and potentialities. The FIRST project sought to address these needs by creating a new professional figure to represent foundations at both national and international levels. This individual has the function of facilitating collaboration and networking among foundations across Europe and secure funding for EU-wide activities. Through innovative training combining storytelling, fundraising, and digital literacy, this 'Foundations' promoter 4.0' is equipped with the necessary skills to create not only financial but also cultural and social value.

Project Management activities, carried out throughout the whole implementation process: - Definition of project monitoring and reporting tools - Monitoring of the output quality, through a project result quality check - Sharing and Promotion Plan - 3 transnational project meetings and online meetings between partners Project activities related to project outputs: PR1: definition of a new professional figure, the Foundations' Promoter 4.0, through: - a research paper - guidelines and roadmap for trainers - training course on Fundraising, Communication and Storytelling PR2: creation and implementation of an Interactive networking tool - interactive map that allows Foundations and other non-profit entities to network and collaborate. PR3: creation and implementation of an Online training platform - Learning online platform that hosts the training course content - A LTTA activity in Cyprus - 7 (6 + 1 - the ME in Naples not originally planned) multiplier events, one in each partner’s country.

The results reached are categorized in MANAGEMENT RESULTS, and PROJECT ACTIVITIES RESULTS: MANAGEMENT RESULTS include: 1)BILATERAL AGREEMENTS WITH PARTNERS; 2)PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS, which include - Partners’ REPORT/TEMPLATES, a semi-annual report on performance, budget spending, and issues encountered. 3)QUALITY ASSURANCE PLAN (QAP), addressing intellectual outputs quality and risk management; 4)SHARING and PROMOTION STRATEGY and PLAN, for the dissemination of project results. PROJECT ACTIVITIES RESULTS, related to the specific objectives of the project: - SO1 - Foundations' promoter 4.0 roadmap: DURING PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION R1.1 Research paper on Foundations’ state of the art, needs, and solutions provided by Storytelling to improve the promotion of Foundations’ identity and activities R1.2 Guidelines for the definition of skills-set framework of Foundations’ Promoter 4.0; R1.2a) list of competences based on the results of the research combined with the competences identified mergingEntreComp, DigiComp and the EU Fundraising Association frameworks. R1.3 Training course for Foundations’ Promoter that combines Fundraising and Storytelling competencies. R1.4 Guide for VET trainers and teachers: 1.4a) Available Guide for VET providers containing the competencies framework of the promoter 4.0 1.4b) Increased trainers’ ability to support Foundations’ staff and young professionals in acquiring new competencies; ON ITS COMPLETION R1.5 Increased and diversified job market’s professional offer; R1.6 Increased Foundations’ staff knowledge and ability to create and run their own new promotional campaign; R1.7 Increased awareness among VET providers, educators, policymakers and the general public about the potential economic growth laying on Foundations at local and European levels. SO2 – Interactive Networking tool: DURING PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION R2.1 Collection of all relevant information about the European Foundation (location, contact and field of interest, activities/promotional campaign best cases, legal information sorted per country, etc.) R2.2 Creation of a database of contacts for a pilot network; R2.3 Interactive map; ON ITS COMPLETION R2.4 Increased number of Foundations joining the network R2.5 Increased number of international collaborations R2.6 Increased awareness about Foundations’ activities (directly participating in FIRST) through the implementation of best cases selected in the platform. SO3 - FIRST online training platform DURING PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION R3.1 e-learning modules including the contents of FIRST training course developed during the PR1 ON ITS COMPLETION R3.2 Increased awareness among Foundations’ staff of Fundraising and Storytelling opportunity; R3.3 Increased awareness among the target group about the new profession of Fundraiser and Storyteller for Foundations. R3.4 Increased promotion and competitiveness of the possible new activities run by the new professional profile.