Via Foundation

The Via Foundation - Nadace Via

Formation	September 4, 1997
Headquarters	Prague, Czech Republic
Exec. Dir.	Zdeněk Mihalco
Website	https://www.nadacevia.cz/

Via Foundation is an independent Czech foundation. Via Foundation’s vision is a society in which people act freely, work together and accept responsibility for themselves and their communities, and where giving is a regular part of life.

Via Foundation supports people who work collaboratively to improve their communities. Via focuses on two key areas: the art of living together (supporting active citizens) and the art of giving (supporting philanthropy). It also operates a simple and secure online giving tool, Darujme.cz, through which donors have given almost CZK 2 billion to more than 1,000 registered organizations and associations.

Since its founding 26 years ago, Via Foundation has supported more than 8,000 projects. It helps create places across the Czech Republic where it is a joy to live. Places which people take care of, where neighbours work together and improve their surroundings themselves. Places where people get to know each other, offer a helping hand and build trust with one another. Thanks to this support, people are creating community gardens, gazebos, playgrounds and other gathering places in cities and towns, repairing small monuments, restoring traditions and holding dozens of neighbourhood gatherings and festivals.

Via Foundation was established in 1997 as the successor to the Czech branch of the American Foundation for a Civil Society, which had been operating in Czechoslovakia since 1990. It raises funds from individual donors, companies, foundations and from the proceeds of its endowment.

Video

• The Via Foundation
• The Via Foundation's 10th Anniversary Event featuring Madeleine K. Albright - Via Executive Director Jiří Bárta
• The Via Foundation's 10th Anniversary Event featuring Madeleine K. Albright - Secretary Madeleine K. Albright (Part 1)

Further reading

• Helping Hands September, 2006 Prague Post article about the Via Foundation's Via Bona Award for Philanthropy by Kathleen Kralowec.
• Giving Back to Their Homelands May 16, 2002 Chronicle of Philanthropy article about "diaspora giving" by Stephen G. Greene.
• Transparency: AmCham Speakers' Series Breakfast United States Ambassador Richard W. Graber's Remarks at the American Chamber of Commerce (Prague) Speakers' Series Breakfast February 14, 2007.
• Community Philanthropy Initiative Czech Republic Overview European Foundation Center report on community foundations in the Czech Republic.
• "Novou náves nám závidějí lidé ze širokého okolí" February 8, 2007 Moderní obec article about a Via Foundation-supported project in Vlkov, Czech Republic by Helena Rezková (in Czech).
• "Lidé z ghetta si sami opravují dům" January 16, 2007 Mladá fronta DNES article about one community development project sponsored by the Via Foundation in Dobra Voda, Czech Republic by Radek Duchoň (in Czech).

External links

• The Via Foundation in English
• The Via Foundation's Facebook page
• Nadace Via in Czech
• Friends of Via Nadace Via - The Via Foundation's USA - based partner organization
• Central and Eastern European Trust
• Foundation for a Civil Society
• The Via Foundation Idealist.org profile of the Via Foundation