About us – Trag fondacija

We support local communities

Community
Foundations
Serbia

Influence public policy

Inspire2Action

We support local communities

Community Foundations
Bosnia and Herzegovina

We inspire action

Inspire2Action

How It All Began

From BCIF to Trag

It all started during the NATO bombing in 1999, when Jenny Hyatt, a social practice consultant, spoke out against the bombing of Serbia at a peace rally in Westminster Central Hall in London.

Thanks to this speech, over £2,000 was raised to support local initiatives in Serbia and Montenegro. This led to the founding of the Balkan Community Foundations (BCIF), intending to provide small grants to local communities in our country.

And so for 25 years

Trag Today

Trag Foundation brings together people who believe that small changes can make a big difference. Trag Foundation brings together people who believe that small changes can make a big difference. We believe in citizens' desire and ability to initiate positive changes in their communities. By offering support through knowledge and resources, we encourage and empower their active involvement in improving life in Serbia. We strive to work together to create a fairer and more open society every day.

1999

At the time of the 1999 bombing, at the initiative of Jenny Hyatt, British activists collected a basic fund intended for the recovery of the Balkans. Thus, in May of the same year, the Balkan Fund for Local Initiatives (BCIF) was created in London, which would later become the Trag

2000

The number of initiatives supported in Serbia and Montenegro by BCIF reached 40! From the very beginning, the focus has been on democratic values and processes, support, networking, and connection of members of vulnerable groups, women’s rights, assistance to people in crisis, such as refugees, and strengthening and building communities

2001

BCIF worked on capacity development for the awarding of small grants in Yugoslavia. A network of advisors was also developed to assist organizations in preparing project proposals. Guidance on the establishment of a Yugoslav foundation was carried out, in order to support grant beneficiaries more effectively. The focus is on

2002

BCIF has made significant progress in its transition from a British charity to a Serbian and Montenegrin foundation. A strategic approach was introduced and frameworks for work and cooperation with supported organizations were defined. . Procedures for reporting, monitoring and organization of study and promotional visits throughout Serbia have been

2003

BCIF was officially registered as a fund for Serbia and Montenegro, with a complete team in Belgrade, including the executive director, program coordinator, administrator and financial coordinator. Two new programs have been launched in the areas of local philanthropy and community development. Support continued for initiatives that encourage the active

2004

BCIF became a foundation situated in Belgrade and has been managed by people from Serbia ever since. The first research on the possibilities of philanthropy in Serbia and Montenegro was conducted, which laid the foundation for future initiatives. 175 grants were awarded, supporting local communities through civic engagement projects, integration

2005

The Development of Philanthropy program was launched, a new program in Montenegro aimed at helping with the social transition, as well as the sixth cycle of the Active Communities program. The Foundation joined the Initiative for Responsible Business, creating a stronger connection between the business and non-profit sectors. In cooperation

2006

So far, projects with a total value of more than 200,000 euros have been supported, which significantly contributed to the development of local communities. Donations to the Active Communities program reached over $4,400 per project, providing specific support for civic initiatives. For the first time, the Philanthropy as Investment seminar

2007

The VIRTUS Award for corporate philanthropy was established, recognizing companies that contribute to the community. In cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, work was initiated on the Law on Endowments and Foundations, and the first research on the tradition of philanthropy in Serbia was published as Message of Past Times.

2008

In partnership with the Poverty Reduction Strategy Implementation Team, a first base of project ideas was created for possible financing by the business sector. The Preliminary Draft of the Law on Endowments and Foundations was prepared, which entered the public debate. Moreover, together with the Ministry of Finance, a more

2009

The tenth anniversary of work was celebrated! The Active Communities program continues to grow – funds in a total of over 89,000 euros have been allocated since the beginning of the program. The Social Transition program is also being developed, and cooperation with ERSTE Bank has continued within the Centrifuga

2010

The number of supported initiatives in Serbia and Montenegro reached 585, and the total value of invested funds exceeded 2.2 million euros. The Active Communities program continues to support informal groups, and more than 203,000 euros have been invested in social transition. Through the campaign, Oplaneti se! Recycle! joined forces

2011

The program It’s Better in Two which provided volunteer support to children and young people with disabilities was launched. The new program We are online! empowered young people to use social networks for activism. The VIRTUS award was awarded for the fifth time, and a new category of volunteering was

2012

A financial endowment was established and the Dobro na dar campaign was launched to collect funds for the endowment fund. A program for employment of persons with disabilities has been launched in partnership with the EU and Dutch foundations. The VIRTUS award was awarded for the first time for contribution

2013

The first National Forum for Green Ideas, which focuses on entrepreneurial ideas aimed at sustainability and environmental preservation, was held in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Through the campaign, Oplaneti se! Recycle!, for the first time in Novi Sad, a festival

2014

BCIF has officially become the Trag Foundation! A new category for the VIRTUS Award was introduced – the Award for Individual Contribution to Philanthropy. One cycle of the Active Communities program was aimed at helping vulnerable areas after the floods in Serbia, where almost 4.3 million RSD of aid were

2015

A category for individual charity was introduced within the VIRTUS award. Together with the B92 Fund, InfoPark was launched, an information point in the park near the bus station in Belgrade, where most of the refugees and asylum seekers passing through Serbia gather. Trag joined the initiative Dobrociniti, organized by

2016

KoRSE started drafting a document detailing the legislation and outlining a strategy for involving this coalition in the development of social entrepreneurship in Serbia. With a partner from the SIGN network, the “Handbook for the Implementation of Fundraising Standards” was published in five different languages, with intensive promotion throughout the

2017

The 20th birthday of the Trag Foundation and the Active Community program was celebrated. The VIRTUS Award for philanthropy was awarded for the tenth time. The fifth National Forum for Green Ideas was organized. A large fund-raising campaign for the Endowment Fund has been completed, and work on it, as

2018

In October and November 2018, Trag conducted a public opinion survey on philanthropy, gaining deeper insight into the perception of philanthropy among the general population, as well as general and specific trends related to philanthropy. A national conference on philanthropy Future of Giving was held in Belgrade, which brought together

2019

The 20th birthday of the Trag Foundation was marked with the campaign #NaDobromTragu! A new memorandum on cooperation with the headquarters of the Global Agreement was signed, which reactivated the local network of Serbia. In cooperation with the British Council, the program Improving Citizen Participation in Public Interest was launched.

2020

Despite the pandemic, a significant number of initiatives were successfully implemented: Support for civic activism has been launched, in collaboration with the British Council and the Good Governance Fund. On the international level, cooperation with the Mozaik Foundation in Bosnia and Herzegovina continued to improve the legal framework for philanthropy,

2021

The support program for women’s groups started the construction of a platform for collective organizing and knowledge exchange, while an assessment of the capacity of CSOs in the early stages of development was carried out in cooperation with the Resource Center in order to define the future needs of grassroots

2022

Within the framework of the Solidarity Response to COVID-19 – Building Community Resilience project, a total of $35,755 was provided in the form of funds for matching donations, as a continuous support in the fight against the consequences of the pandemic. With the support of the European Union, the Empower2Change

2023

Trag has strategically deployed resources to advance its mission, focusing on expanding support for local initiatives, creating new partnerships and launching innovative projects. In cooperation with the organization CRTA, the Mobilization Fund program was launched, to support active citizens in their efforts to improve the functioning and quality of life

2024

Trag Foundation celebrates 25 years of work!

We Inspire and Support Development

Endowment Fund

Inspired by the legacies of Miša Anastasijević, Marija Trandafil, and Ilija M. Kolarac, we at Trag Foundation decided to initiate the creation of an endowment fund, believing that Serbia we aspire could become a reality in the future.

As the leading foundation for local community development in Serbia, in 2012, we launched a campaign that has so far brought together over 200 individuals, numerous companies, foundations, and other donors from Serbia and around the world.

Trag’s Endowment Fund is a unique example, as it is the first fund of its kind in the region.

Support

Thanks to the support of the private Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, which doubled the initially collected $251,861, a fund worth about $750,000 was created.

Investment

Through donations, the fund grew to 785,000 dollars, and today, with its full strength, it supports citizens in their efforts to improve the local communities where they work and do business. Thanks to long-term donations and investments, we are able to provide support in an urgent situation.

Active Communities

Through the "Active Communities: Solidarity Response to COVID-19" program, 39 initiatives were supported that were aimed at reducing the spread of the virus, facilitating self-isolation, as well as actions focused on the recovery of communities from the economic and other social consequences of the pandemic.

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From BCIF to Trag

Trag Today

History

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Endowment Fund

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Investment

Active Communities

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When solidarity strengthens and dares!

Thanks to you, we had the opportunity to go outside!

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