Impact
The NGO Academy network is working to achieve a positive impact on society day by day. Its members give impulses for progressive change. Here we want to share insights from the field as well as updates and inspiring stories.
What sets the NGO Academy apart is its genuine focus on relevance and interactivity. This isn't just another workshop. It's a space where NPO/NGO professionals come together to learn, collaborate, and find inspiration to overcome the challenges we face every day.
Boris Marte named Honorary Senator by WU Vienna
Boris Marte, long-standing CEO and now Senior Adviser to the Board of ERSTE Foundation, was awarded with the title of Honorary Senator by WU Vienna. The honour recognises Boris’ sustained commitment to civil society across Central and Eastern Europe and his decade-long partnership with WU.
Call for Applications: Civil Society Leadership Programme for Ukraine 2026
When was the last time you were able to reflect on the development of your organisation and your own personal resources? The NGO Academy warmly invites you to apply for a scholarship for the “Civil Society Leadership Programme for Ukraine 2026”.
Member Story #18: Andreea Nistor and Simona Beldiman on Amplifying Social Impact through Inter-organizational Cooperation
Andreea Nistor and Simona Beldiman are Alumni of our Social Innovation and Management Programme 2025. Together, they created a campaign to tackle one of Romania’s most pressing issues: functional illiteracy. Their campaign is a showcase of how inter-organizational cooperation can amplify social impact and what cross-sector partnerships can achieve.
Watch: The Politics of Fear: The Shameless Normalization of Far-Right Discourse – NGO Academy Keynote with Em. Prof. Dr. Ruth Wodak
Across Europe and beyond, once-taboo rhetoric is entering the political mainstream, and hereby reshaping public discourse, policymaking, and democratic norms. In her keynote, Ruth Wodak explored the phenomenon of “shameless normalization”: a process through which provocation, denial, and conspiracy theories are not just tolerated but strategically deployed by political actors to shift the limits of the sayable.
Lessons on EU Grant Writing with Dijana Pejić and Lisa Ringhofer
NGO Academy Member Dijana Pejić from Bosnia & Herzegovina shared a story with us that we think is a great example of what is possible in EU fundraising. We figured that her success is a great chance to compile a few learnings and a mini toolkit on EU grant writing for all of you.
Connecting for Non-Formal Education 2025 – a Community-Led Event by eematico
The third edition of Connecting for Non-Formal Education 2025, organized by the eematico Association, once again brought together more than 85 participants in Bucharest from October 9–10.
Empowering NGOs for Impactful Fundraising – a Community-Led Event by HUKI
To help civil society organizations become more resilient, sustainable, and less dependent on public funding, it is essential to develop knowledge and skills in attracting private resources. With this goal in mind, the workshop “Empowering NGOs for Impactful Fundraising” organized by HUKI took place on October 14th-16th in Zagreb.
Save the date | 10.12.2025 | NGO Academy Keynote
Join us on Dec 10 for the NGO Academy Keynote on “The Politics of Fear”, where Em. Prof. Dr. Ruth Wodak will explore the phenomenon of “shameless normalization”: a process through which provocation, denial, and conspiracy theories are not just tolerated but strategically deployed by political actors to shift the limits of the sayable.
Successful Collaborations Between NGOs and Companies Interested in CSR – a Community-Led Event by Viitor Plus
Earlier in September Viitor Plus organized the event “Successful Collaborations Between NGOs and Companies Interested in CSR” in Sibiu. Over two days, social entrepreneurs and business representatives discussed how purchasing decisions can become a real tool for positive impact and long-term sustainability. The event’s mission was clear: to build genuine bridges between the social economy and the corporate sector.