The Via Foundation, Nadace Via, is a charitable foundation located in Prague, Czech Republic. The Via Foundation provides small grants and expertise to non-profit community initiatives in the Czech Republic. Where 50 years of totalitarian government dampened people's initiative, the Via Foundation now supports peoples' efforts to improve their communities through a variety of programs and activities.
Mission
The Via Foundation supports and strengthens public participation in the development of a democratic society in the Czech Republic. This includes:
In 1997, the Via Foundation was created as the indigenous successor to the Foundation for a Civil Society. Since then Via has supported over 1650 community projects in over 260 cities, towns and villages. The name "Via" was chosen to evoke the image of a common path towards a vibrant, active, and democratic society.
2007 marks the 10th year of the Via Foundation’s annual Via Bona Award for Philanthropy. The award acknowledges exemplary philanthropy of companies and individuals who have a history of strong support of the work of non-profit organizations in the Czech Republic. The Via Bona awards are presented each September at a ceremony held at the residence of the United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic in Prague. The Via Bona Award is given to those who serve as an example to others through their material and financial support, as well as their willingness to tread untried paths. These donors move the Czech Republic ever closer to the renewal of a healthy tradition of giving and philanthropy. The Via Bona Awards are made possible with the support of Citibank and the Citigroup Foundation and in partnership with the Foundation for a Civil Society. * * * List of Past Via Bona Award Winners
To support legal, fiscal and political environments in which civil societies can flourish;
To strengthen the nonprofit sectors in the target countries through institutional capacity building; and
To support the long-term financial sustainability of nonprofit organizations.
The CEE Trust Board of Directors selected the Via Foundation as its regional partner and allocated US$3,000,000 to the program in the Czech Republic for a three-year period between 2002-2005.
On December 12, 2010, the Via Foundation and Charter 77 jointly launched partnership with the US-based nonprofit organization, TechSoup. The project aims to provide technology to qualified Czech nonprofit and civic organizations through the website .
