Il nostro modello operativo

A journey with the South of Italy

Our operating model

Listening, ongoing support, and data analysis are the pillars of our operating model, guiding our work from the design of a call for proposals or initiative to the evaluation of results.

Introduction

We support projects and initiatives led by third-sector organizations together with other local institutional and economic stakeholders, fostering the development of active, cohesive, and supportive communities. Our operating model is built on core principles for creating change.

Ascolto

Listening

It is essential for us not to impose solutions from above but gain a deep understanding of the needs, experiences, and perspectives of each local community.

Fiducia

Trust

We believe in relationships built on trust with all our partners and the organizations we choose to support, recognizing each one's expertise and responsibilities while fostering collaboration, autonomy, and transparency.

Lavoro di squadra

Alliances

The challenges we face are complex, requiring us to pool resources, knowledge, and expertise. We chose to name ourselves 'con il Sud' ('with the South') to emphasize our commitment to building stable, equal partnerships among stakeholders and organizations that bring different areas of expertise.

Ongoing support

We stand alongside our partners and the projects we fund even beyond the formal terms of financing and project duration, because financial support alone is not enough; ongoing dialogue and strategic guidance are needed throughout the process.

Festa patronale

Shared impact

Achieving measurable impact in every local community requires collaboration, mutual responsibility, and collective efforts toward meaningful change.

How we work with local communities

Our commitment begins by listening to the real needs of local communities and extends far beyond grantmaking: we remain alongside communities over time to ensure that the outcomes we achieve endure.

Designing calls for proposals and initiatives

We turn what we have heard and learned into concrete opportunities. We design calls for proposals tailored to the needs and development of local communities, launch them publicly, and provide support by phone or email to those who wish to apply.

Project selection

We select the most promising ideas through a careful evaluation process. We assess the strength of the partnership, the innovative nature of the proposal, and its potential to create lasting, positive impact, engaging directly with the applicants.

Support and monitoring

We always stand alongside our partners and follow projects step by step. Through ongoing dialogue, we help resolve obstacles and adapt implementation plans as challenges arise, ensuring we reach our goals together.

Results and shared learning

At project close, we evaluate the activities carried out and examine what worked to understand the real change generated within local communities. We share these experiences and community-based processes to encourage collective learning and to ensure that the most effective models can be replicated elsewhere.

How we monitor and evaluate projects

Tools and methods

The main tools we use to support our initiatives range from calls for proposals to joint initiatives with other funders, from community foundations to institutional partnerships, from re-granting (managing external resources) to providing support for volunteer organizations. At the same time, we test new tools and methods for supporting third-sector organizations, including through co-design.

Calls for proposals and guidelines

We provide financial support for projects led by partnerships composed primarily of third-sector organizations, through calls for proposals or targeted Funding Guidelines.

Joint initiatives (co-funding)

We combine our resources with those of other funding bodies, companies, or foundations to support projects across all our programme areas. This helps attract additional investment to Southern Italy and enables the exchange of ideas and experience to achieve greater local impact.

Community foundations

We help establish new local foundations and support them over time. The goal is to make communities the main drivers of their own growth, capable of mobilizing resources and addressing their own needs independently and sustainably.

Institutional partnerships

We aim to bring together expertise, resources, and ideas with other institutions and organizations that share our core values, in order to develop effective projects and generate broader, more sustainable impact.

Management of external resources (re-granting)

Drawing on our experience, we attract funding from national and international organizations to redistribute it to high-impact social projects across Southern Italy.

Volunteer support programmes

We help volunteer organizations become stronger and better equipped to meet evolving needs, encouraging collaboration and the development of new ways to support local communities.

Stories that tell our mission

Our journey with the South generates community stories, which we share so they can serve as an example.

Discover the stories of change

Data and results

Projects supported over 2000
Organizations involved 7.600
Resources mobilized 335 Mln €