International Project Strengthens Financial Stability and Cooperation Across Europe
A two‑year international initiative aimed at improving financial sustainability and organisational capacity has concluded successfully. It brought together multiple Caritas organisations from across Europe.
The ACTS (Financial Stability through Sharing and Learning) project, implemented from 2024 to 2025, was led by Caritas Finland in collaboration with Caritas Estonia, Caritas Portugal, SCIAF (Caritas Scotland), and initially Caritas Luxembourg. The project focused on strengthening fundraising capacity, enhancing strategic planning, and fostering shared learning across the Caritas network.
The initiative began in January 2024. In April, the consortium members met for the first time as a team. They established a shared vision and aligned their activities. Despite differences in size, structure and national contexts, the organisations worked closely together, adapting to changes throughout the project and building strong professional relationships based on trust and openness.
Over the course of the programme, the consortium delivered tangible results. Four international webinars attracted 235 registrations and 119 participants, while recordings further extended their reach. Partners jointly developed 21 fundraising tools and collected 20 best practices that were shared throughout the Caritas network. Each organisation also developed or revised a comprehensive fundraising strategy and participated in donor mapping exercises to better understand fundraising trends, donor profiles and future opportunities.
A key outcome of the project was the strengthening of staff capacity and professional expertise. Through workshops, webinars, study visits and monthly online meetings, staff members exchanged knowledge on topics including fundraising strategies, donor engagement, digital fundraising, parish cooperation and CRM systems. Participants highlighted peer learning and knowledge sharing as some of the most valuable aspects of the project.
For Caritas Finland, the project supported the development of a comprehensive fundraising strategy, improved parish engagement and contributed to the renewal of the organisation’s website and online donation system. Monthly donations increased significantly during the project period, and new communication methods helped strengthen relationships with parishes and supporters. The project also enhanced Caritas Finland’s capacity in project management, strategic planning and fundraising analysis.
For Caritas Estonia, the project helped the organisation move from planning to implementation. Caritas Estonia developed its first fundraising strategy, organised fundraising campaigns, strengthened cooperation with neighbouring Caritas organisations and successfully secured a grant from Bonifatiuswerk. New initiatives included church collections, youth engagement activities and expanded partnerships, all contributing to increased confidence and organisational growth
For Caritas Portugal, the project accelerated the organisation’s digital fundraising development. A new fundraising strategy and digital fundraising approach were created with expert support, while donor databases were updated and automated. Regular newsletters, improved CRM systems and a new fundraising campaign helped strengthen donor communication and lay the foundation for future growth in private, corporate and online fundraising.
For SCIAF (Caritas Scotland), the project supported the review of fundraising plans and the development of a new long‑term organisational strategy. Staff members strengthened their skills through presentations, webinars and international exchange, while new community fundraising initiatives—including anniversary events, sports activities and film screenings—provided both income and opportunities for deeper engagement with supporters and Catholic communities throughout Scotland.
The project demonstrated that organisations of different sizes and capacities can successfully learn from one another and achieve meaningful results together. Beyond the practical tools and fundraising strategies developed, ACTS strengthened cooperation, trust and professional networks among participants, creating a strong foundation for future collaboration across the Caritas family. Although it is difficult to attribute fundraising growth directly to a single initiative, participating organisations reported stronger fundraising practices, improved strategic thinking and enhanced organisational capacity as a result of the project.
ACTS highlights the importance of investing in organisational development and long‑term financial sustainability to ensure that charitable organisations can continue supporting those most in need.
