Local communities are one of the most under-leveraged and misunderstood sources of support for universities. Drawing on hands-on experience from the University of Central Asia, this session explores how placing community at the centre of advancement can unlock new philanthropic potential while fundamentally reshaping institutional trust, legitimacy, and long-term sustainability.

In its pilot year, UCA raised USD 90,000 from 200 community members in Naryn (Kyrgyzstan) and Khorog (Tajikistan)-two remote towns located in the poorest regions of their respective countries. This result is striking not because of the amount alone, but because it was achieved in communities traditionally viewed as having little philanthropic capacity and historically positioned as beneficiaries rather than stakeholders. The amounts were leveraged and amplified with matching support being mobilised from the local mayoral office in Naryn.

The session will explore how the community, having offered financial support (however modest), started seeking greater accountability from the University on the quality of teaching for courses where the funds mobilised were used to provide scholarship support. It will also describe and facilitate discussion on how donor recognition could look like for supporters from extremely disadvantaged communities. Finally, the session will examine how UCA deliberately shifted the relationship between the University and its surrounding communities-from one characterized by distance, perceived privilege, and one-way dependency, to one grounded in participation, dignity, and shared ownership; unpacking how small, accessible contributions, transparent use of funds, and sustained engagement helped change community perceptions of the University from a "foreign" or elite institution into a locally anchored partner.