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CISP President Maura Viezzoli shares important updates about our organization.
The reform of Italy’s Third Sector is now almost fully implemented. Its enforcement is prompting many long-established non-profit organizations to review their structures in order to comply with the new regulations. However, for many organizations this is not merely a technical adjustment: it is an opportunity to take stock, reflect on their identity, and define a vision for the future. It is no longer enough to check regulatory compliance or update procedures; what is needed is a deeper reflection, to assess whether the institutional and organizational framework remains coherent with the mission and with the challenges of the years ahead.
With this spirit, CISP, forty years after its founding, has launched a comprehensive reflection on its structure. This is a moment of analysis and strategic vision, aimed at identifying the most suitable form to ensure a solid, sustainable future, capable of responding to the changes shaping the world around it.
With a move that strengthens both its structure and its long-term outlook, the Comitato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo dei Popoli – CISP (International Committee for the Development of Peoples – CISP) is officially changing its name to CISP – Sviluppo dei Popoli (CISP – Development of Peoples), or more simply CISP. This change accompanies the adoption of a new legal status: last June, the Members’ Assembly approved the transformation of the association into a Participatory Foundation. Not the creation of a new entity, but rather a transformation of the existing organization, maintaining full continuity of its legal identity, history, and commitments.
The transition marks the beginning of a new chapter for the organization, which in 2025 celebrates 42 years of activity.
After more than four decades of activity and a solid reputation built across more than 40 countries, CISP now faces an international context that is evolving rapidly and requires new, more flexible tools for development cooperation. The primary goal of this transformation is to provide the organization with a legal and institutional framework better suited to current and future challenges, while preserving its identity, founding values, and participatory spirit.
The Participatory Foundation model, already adopted by many Third Sector organizations in Italy and across Europe, combines the strengths of both foundations and associations. Stability and recognition: it ensures legal and financial solidity, strengthens long-term sustainability, and enhances credibility with donors, public institutions, and private partners. Active participation: it maintains the participatory character of an association, promoting transparent and shared governance and encouraging broad involvement.
The transformation introduces significant innovations in CISP’s organizational structure and membership base.
Founding Members: more directly involved in the governance of the Foundation, they participate in the Assembly with voting rights on statutory bodies and the annual budget.
Promoting Members: open to individuals and organizations wishing to support the Foundation, with voting rights on strategic programming and opportunities to contribute actively to its activities.
The new composition of the statutory bodies ensures a more balanced distribution of powers, values the experience gained over the years, and fosters a more dynamic and inclusive governance.
This institutional evolution marks the beginning of a new stage for CISP – Sviluppo dei Popoli, aligned with the changing needs of modern international cooperation and with the organization’s mission and enduring commitment to promoting equitable, sustainable, and people-centered development.