Raport 100 #nonprofitPL na LinkedIn, published by communications consultancy Instytut Dobrej Komunikacji, includes the 100 Polish nonprofits with the highest LinkedIn following, and a separate ranking of individual sector leaders.

Three fundraising figures

Three of the ten most influential individuals in the Social Justice & Philanthropy category for Poland are fundraising professionals, according to data from analytics platform Favikon, which ranks individuals based on factors including engagement and reach rather than follower count alone.

• Mirella Panek-Owsiańska, a fundraising advisor to NGOs, ranks third with 10,249 followers.
• Robert Kawałko, president and CEO of the Polskie Stowarzyszenie Fundraisingu (Polish Fundraising Association), ranks sixth with 5,835 followers.
• Fundraising consultant Katarzyna Konefał ranks eighth, with 10,813 followers.

The top position is held by Olga Kotyk, a social impact entrepreneur and CEO of the Web-Korki Foundation.

Women’s organisations lead the field

In the organizational rankings, five of the top six accounts by follower count work specifically on women’s empowerment and professional development.

Sieć Przedsiębiorczych Kobiet (Network of Entrepreneurial Women) leads the ranking with 41,000 followers, while Fundacja Kobiety Inspirują (Women Who Inspire Foundation) recorded the highest percentage growth of any organisation tracked, up 453% since the report’s previous edition in 2023, adding more than 24,000 new followers.

The report notes that women’s organizations not only attract large audiences but frequently collaborate with one another, amplifying their collective reach.

Paulina Kołodziejak-Łaska, marketing director at Sieć Przedsiębiorczych Kobiet, writes in the report:

“LinkedIn has become a key platform for consciously shaping career paths and strengthening market position. Networking on LinkedIn has stopped being merely about collecting contacts, and has become a process of building strong support networks.”

Beyond the women’s sector, education-focused organizations account for the largest single category by number of profiles in the top 100 (18), followed by technology (10) and sector or industry associations (10). The median follower count among the top 100 is 5,381.

Overall, tracked organizations grew by an average of 50% over the two-year period, though growth was highly uneven. The report’s authors note that follower count is not the sole measure of communications success, but offers a useful guide to which causes and approaches are resonating on the platform.

Photo by freestocks-photos on Pixabay

Poles share the same concerns as other Western European countries. Political polarization of society, the largest-ever wave of migrants from around the world, fears of new technologies, and difficult intergenerational dialogue – these are topics that constantly recur in conversations, social media, and public media. Add to this the three-year-long war in Ukraine and the question of whether Poland will also have to defend its independence.

Democracy in regression?

For almost a decade, Poland has remained one of the main examples of the erosion of liberal democracy in the European Union. Although the country regularly holds elections, the space for free public debate, independent institutions, and civic participation is gradually shrinking. Recent events since the 2025 presidential election shed further light on this phenomenon.

Procedural externals

Poland still meets the basic formal criteria of democracy: it holds elections, there is multi-party democracy, and society uses the internet and media freely. However, as observers note, democracy is becoming increasingly procedural – limited to electoral rituals, while weakening oversight institutions, civil rights, and real public influence on reality.

The recent presidential election, which ended with a narrow majority for the candidate supported by the right-wing opposition, sparked a wave of protests and accusations of irregularities. Although no systemic abuses were proven, the scale of mutual undermining of legitimacy and the use of conspiratorial language on both sides of the political spectrum are symptoms of a deeper crisis of trust – not only in political rivals, but in the democratic process itself. Incumbent Prime Minister Donald Tusk made an unsuccessful attempt to persuade the Marshal of the Sejm to prevent the swearing-in of the new president. The term “coup d’état” is used daily across all instances, and the prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the matter. In short, a war between two tribes is underway. We know this from many countries around the world. There is even a view that nations no longer exist, replaced by two warring civilizations. Institutions in chronic conflict.

The persistent conflict between the government and a president elected from a different political camp deepens the phenomenon of a “blocked state” – a situation in which institutions are unable to effectively cooperate. This blocks key reforms and increases systemic tensions. Authorities accuse each other of violating the constitution, further undermining the authority of institutions such as the Supreme Court and the National Council of the Judiciary.

The atrophy of public media and civic discourse

Public media in Poland, for years governed by the political lines of successive governments, have ceased to function as impartial sources of information. After the centrist-liberal camp took power in 2023, attempts were made to implement a “media reset,” but these actions were often as politically motivated as the previous interventions. As a result, both right-wing and liberal voters increasingly perceive the media as a propaganda arm of the party. The public’s attention is shifting to the internet, where more and more channels with millions of followers are flourishing. The tentacles of political parties do not reach there, and the fight for reach forces them to speak with greater purpose.

Meanwhile, non-governmental organizations, especially those working on human rights, climate, and migrant issues, continue to operate in a climate of uncertainty. After years of open hostility from the conservative government, they now have to cope with the lack of a long-term cooperation strategy from the new authorities and limited access to stable funding. Polish NGOs already know that if they become too close to the ruling party, they will face lean years after the change of power. Therefore, few organizations are willing to take sides. Most choose neutrality, focus on their mission, and avoid conflict.

Civil society doesn’t give up

Despite these challenges, Poland still boasts an active civil society, independent judges, vibrant digital media, and local grassroots initiatives. Democracy in Poland continues to balance between formal pluralism and an increasingly polarized, distrustful society.

The shrinking democratic space in Poland is not a spectacular decline, but a gradual degradation of trust, cooperation, and informed debate. In a world of intense polarization, fragile institutions, and the politics of conflict, democracy must regain its original meaning. Poles, like many other nations, must learn to respect differing beliefs. They must learn to create a diverse community that can work toward common goals and respect the will of the majority. Poles have always been able to unite when faced with a common enemy – this was true during wars; this was true under communism. Back then, all quarrels were secondary, and people were able to reach an understanding. Now the challenge is to make this happen in times of peace.

Picture by Natalia Gasiorowska on Unsplash

The name of the event was not chosen at random. It took place at the Norblin Factory, the headquarters of Allegro, Poland’s largest e-commerce platform, which has been systematically supporting fundraising in Poland for many years.

Over 30 fundraisers from large and small organizations in Poland took part in a free class and workshop on storytelling led by Mirek Ubran, expanding their skills in this key area of their work. There was also time for networking.

Polish Fundraising Association vice president Agata Wiencis said:

“Although gaining knowledge was an important goal of the meeting, it was equally important for the members of the association to meet each other in real life and exchange experiences. Regular online contact is important, but it is only when we meet face to face that real relationships are formed. That is why the Polish Fundraising Association is already planning the next editions!”

Main picture by Startup Stock Photos on Pexels

The event, the second to focus on fundraising capacity building, was organized by the Academy of Civic Organizations Foundation (FAOO) in collaboration with the Slovak Fundraising Centre, and with the financial support of the Active Citizens Fund, funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

Three key themes

25 attendees, from Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden, and the UK, gathered over two days on November 7 and 8. Following the first expert seminar in 2023, this time sessions took place around three key themes: AI Insights: Unlocking New Dimensions in Fundraising; Grassroots Fundraising & Mobilisation: Building Trust and Independence; and Philanthropy in Uncertain Times.

Day 1 focus: growing fundraising income; AI benefits & risks; grassroots fundraising & mobilisation

The learning journey began with a session entitled: Great Fundraising: What Does It Take to Double, Triple or Even Quadruple Your Fundraising Income, presented by Prof. Adrian Sargeant and Dr Jen Chang from the UK’s Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy.

The second part of the day focused on AI, including how it can provide deeper information about donors and help fundraisers better understand their motivations. How AI may personalize the donor experience and help to optimize fundraising campaigns was also discussed, along with the risks it brings into fundraising. Illuminating talks were given by Kateřina Švidrnochová, Masaryk University – Brno on Fundraising in the AI Era: Strategies, Tools, and Case Studies, and Piotr Bilik, Stowarzyszenie Otwarte Klatki on AI in Action: Enhancing Fundraising Efforts to Improve the Lives of Factory Farmed Animals.

In the afternoon, discussions turned to the topic of grassroots fundraising and mobilisation, looking at best practices and strategies for mobilizing the public and fostering grassroots fundraising as a response to non-transparent public funding practices or whims of the rich.  Whether mass mobilization can bring money that matters was also discussed, along with whether grassroots fundraising contributes to the independence of the civic sector.

Konstantina Papadimitriou from Inuksuk Consulting presented on Solidarity Trips: Engaging Donors Through Volunteer Experiences; Zuzana Suchová & Ivan Zaťko from Donio Slovensko on Raising Voices: Crowdfunding for Democracy, Rule of Law, and Independent Media in Slovakia; and Björn Lampe, from Denmark’s betterplace.org spoke on How to Raise 1.5 Million EUR in 48 Hours: the Potential for Grassroots Fundraising in the Creator Economy.

The first day ended with a panel discussion, providing both panellists and audience with the opportunity to share ideas, hopes and concerns about the future of philanthropy.

Day 2 focus: exploring the challenges faced by organizations supporting nonprofits

Day two focused on challenges faced by specialists who support nonprofit organizations in their fundraising capacity building, and explored strategies and tactics for surviving, developing, and thriving. Those attending explored critical questions related to professional development in an interactive session, including how to effectively keep pace with the evolving needs of clients (nonprofit organizations) and respond to them.

Participants also had a chance to identify and articulate their own educational needs to help them find the best way to enhance their competencies, and ultimately be ready for the future.

The final session saw the event close with a discussion on key findings and recommendations.

Commenting on the event, FAOO’s Andrzej Pietrucha said:

Photos by Marek Rozwadowski

The two-day event, held on 25 and 26 May, aimed to facilitate knowledge exchange, foster collaboration, and enhance fundraising capacity among specialists supporting civic organizations in the region. The event was organized by EFA member Academy of Civic Organizations Foundation (FAOO) in Poland; the Association for Civil Society Development (SMART) in Croatia; and the SOLIDARNA Foundation for Human Rights and Solidarity, also based in Croatia.

The seminar aimed to address fundamental questions regarding fundraising capacity building and the implementation of effective procedures and tools within organizations. The event sought to facilitate information and idea exchange, strengthen competencies, develop effective fundraising strategies, and explore the social and economic environment affecting fundraising in the CEE region. Namely, fundraising plays a pivotal role in the independence and development of the third sector, particularly in times of unpredictable crises.

Fundraising in depth

The introductory session on first day featured several presentations and discussions on various topics related to fundraising. Richard Docwra from ChangeStar (UK) delivered a talk on fundraising from individuals, sharing five lessons from the UK context. This session was followed by a Q&A session. Eduard Marček from the Slovak Fundraising Centre discussed the availability of relevant data for fundraisers and where to find it. Marina Škrabalo from SOLIDARNA Foundation for Human Rights and Solidarity talked about current philanthropic trends in Croatia and lessons learned from the recent crisis period. Giedrė Šopaitė-Šilinskienė from Fundraising@LT provided an overview of the fundraising sector in Lithuania.

The following session focused on mapping fundraising strategies, methods, and tools. Zoran Grozdanov from the Center for the Culture of Dialogue shared the story of “My Place Under the Sun” and discussed cross-sectoral alliances as anchors of financial sustainability. Jan Gregor from Svět Neziskovek talked about resilient NGOs and Marianna Wartecka from Ocalenie Foundation discussed corporate fundraising for refugees.

The day ended with a foresight session in groups, where participants discussed the future of fundraising in CEE countries and identified possible scenarios, developments, threats, and opportunities. Breakout sessions were organized to set up working groups for the next day, and participants were encouraged to select topics for further discussion.

Photo by Maciek Jóźwiak & Anna Liminowicz

Insights shared on challenges and opportunities

The second day of the seminar enabled small group discussions on challenges and opportunities related to provision of fundraising training and consultancy and promotion philanthropy through communication, donor engagement and advocacy.

The discussion on challenges faced in providing fundraising consultancy support highlighted several issues – the prevalent “free of charge” culture in the NGO sector; managing freelance consultants through an agency; ensuring programme quality through certification and promoting national standards; consultant as well as client burnout; and the importance of setting boundaries, training and retaining junior consultants.

To improve the quality and impact of fundraising consultancy support, several strategies were proposed. There is a clear need for addressing the “free of charge” mindset in NGOs, managing client expectations and establishing clear boundaries between consultants and client organizations. Further branding of fundraising can be achieved through success stories, media outreach and promotion of quality standards in the sector. Greater effectiveness of fundraising support can be achieved by conducting regular needs assessments, knowledge sharing among consultants and partnerships with academia, continuous training opportunities, development of certified programs with materials in national languages and more dynamic regional networking and collaboration among fundraising experts.

The group discussion on effective communications emphasized the importance of producing compelling content that resonates with individuals and companies beyond existing support circles. This can be achieved by highlighting the impact of philanthropy and showcasing success stories.

Strategic collaboration among donors was identified as a pivotal means to enhance communication efforts and expand the overall pool of contributors. Segmenting audiences and employing various frames of reference were deemed crucial in tailoring messages effectively. Different target groups respond to different messaging approaches, such as moral obligation, catalyst for innovation and development, lasting lifestyle practice, tool for additional private funding of public responsibilities, or even a political act. Incorporating activities that actively involve people and add value to their lives was encouraged to encourage philanthropic participation. Special focus should be put on engaging youth concerned about climate action and social impact. Additional attention should be paid to ways we accommodate the preferences of “introverted” donors who prefer anonymity or private engagement.

The group discussion also emphasized the need to address potential threats to public trust in philanthropy, such as incidents of fraud. Cultivating a culture of transparency among donors and consistently highlighting the positive impact of philanthropy on societies can help mitigate such concerns and maintain public trust.

The event received financial support from the Active Citizens Fund, funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through the EEA Grants and Norway Grants 2014-2021.

Photos by Maciek Jóźwiak & Anna Liminowicz

The 2022 conference focuses on “Adaptation” with three thematic conference tracks: image, social and digital adaptation.

A masterclass on 16 November led by lecturer and trainer Jerzy Mika will precede the conference track sessions, which include well-known fundraising experts Ken Burnett and Ken Phillips in the line-up.

Ken Burnett is a writer, speaker and author of several books on donor relationship development and communication, including the 1992 classic Relationship Fundraising. Thanks to the efforts of the Polish Fundraising Association, this book has been translated into Polish and will be premiered at the conference. Burnett’s session is entitled ‘The Future of Fundraising’.

Ken Phillips has 55 years of experience in nonprofit projects, having worked with hundreds of foundations and associations from the US, Eastern Europe and elsewhere. He will be leading a number of sessions, with a session titled Essential Strategic Responsibilities of the Fundraiser on day one, followed by two on the second: Drafting Your Own Leadership Development Plan of Action, and Identifying the Right Strategies for Your Fundraising.

There will also be many other prominent fundraisers and consultants from Poland at the conference, with more than 20 speakers in total.

Association organises training sessions for ORLEN Foundation beneficiaries

L-R Robert Kawalko & Adam Kobryn

In other news from the Polish Fundraising Association, it recently, and for the second time, organised a series of training courses for ORLEN Foundation beneficiaries.

The ORLEN Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations operating in Poland. Affiliated with the ORLEN oil company, its work includes donating to those in need, supporting local communities through grant programmes and awarding scholarships to talented young people. It also makes donations to firefighting units for the purchase of equipment and supports Polish hospitals.

The Foundation runs the ORLEN Foundation Academy programme, which provides NGO representatives, mostly from smaller towns and with smaller budgets, with access to professional training. This is conducted by trainers from the Polish Fundraising Association, and as well as covering how to raise funds, the recent courses included how to build an organisation’s marketing strategy, and how to resolve conflicts in a team. The Polish Fundraising Association also held additional training sessions on storytelling, fundraising and working with journalists. In total, the programme included 15 sessions and lasted for a number of months with the last one held in September 2022.

Commenting, the association’s director Marcin Chmielowski said:

“The results of the evaluation are promising. Participants write that the trainings gave them a lot and allowed them to implement new knowledge and skills. Such projects measurably strengthen the NGO sector in Poland.”

Main picture by Luis Quintero on Pexels

Against the backdrop of the Ukraine invasion and with 2 million people having already crossed the border to seek refuge in Poland, visibility has surged of NGOs and their role in providing critical aid and infrastructure. Aware of this unique opportunity to capture public interest as charitable needs continue to rise, the Academy of Civic Organizations Foundation (FAOO), the Polish Donors Forum and the National Federation of Polish NGOs have united with nonprofits across Poland to educate the public about the long-term benefits of regular giving and appeal for support.

Andrzej Pietrucha, fundraising & marketing consultant the Academy of Civic Organizations Foundation, says:

“Poles have shown their philanthropic spirit in recent weeks, rushing to help in every way possible and often taking guests into their own homes. But the scale of the crisis in Ukraine and the number of refugees coming into the country means that the need for charitable services is greater than ever.

“We’re all too aware that people can’t continue to help like this indefinitely – we need to be able to deliver a more coordinated approach over the long-term, and that means building regular income from private donors.”

He explains that a humanitarian crisis of this scale has not been seen in Poland since the fall of communism in 1989, saying that: “a new approach to philanthropy is necessary.”

“Currently in Poland, regular giving is rare. But this is crucial if we think about long-term support and planning. Moreover, we can assume that commitment and interest in the crisis will decrease slightly over time, so we need to act now to build on the public’s desire to help.

“If we succeed in building regular donations, NGOs will be able to plan ahead, and to to react faster and better to those in need, now and in the future.”

The appeal highlights the key challenges faced by NGOs, with guidelines on where to find information about organisations in their area and how best to support them. It also emphasises the significance of professionally prepared staff.

To date, the campaign has reached more than 2 million people across the country, achieving widespread media coverage and with the hashtag #JakPomocPomagajacym (how to help the helpers) shared widely on social media channels.

The campaign founders believe that by capitalising on the current interest in helping others they will be able to educate the public about the role of charitable organisations in Poland and the value of long-term, intentional philanthropy.

Pietrucha adds: “I believe that what is happening in our country is a decisive moment not only for Polish humanitarian organizations, but for the entire charity sector engaged in supporting the largest wave of refugees in Europe since WWII. It is necessary to call for sustainable funding of NGOs and recall the role of independent organisations as a part of the aid system. A new approach to philanthropy should be the shared responsibility of individual and institutional donors, including companies, governments and private grant makers.”

Main photo by Anna Liminowicz