Polish Family Foundations Lead Philanthropy Renaissance

Poland's economy is booming, but its philanthropic culture is just beginning to catch up with decades of lost opportunity.

The country's traumatic 20th century history, including 17% of its population dying in World War II and 45 years under communist rule, meant families couldn't build wealth or pass it between generations until 1989. Now, pioneering families are creating a blueprint for Polish giving.

The EFC Foundation, established in 2009 by medical device entrepreneur Andrzej Czernecki, honors his father's legacy of running underground schools during Nazi occupation. The Starak Family Foundation, launched in 2008 by Poland's second-richest person Jerzy Starak, focuses on art and education access.

Together, they've transformed how Poland thinks about philanthropy. Their flagship program, the Horizons scholarship scheme, gives talented students from small towns and rural areas the chance to attend Poland's top schools.

Over 1,000 young people have received these scholarships since 2009. The program now offers 200 scholarships annually, covering not just tuition but also mentorship, workshops, and meetings with inspiring leaders.

The Ripple Effect

These foundations are doing more than writing checks. They're proving that Poland's grassroots spirit of solidarity, visible when 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees were welcomed into private homes in 2022, can be channeled into lasting institutional change.

"Responsibility rests with those who have benefited most from the last 35 years to ensure that future generations can enjoy the benefits of liberal democracy," says Igor Czernecki, who now leads the EFC Foundation after his father's death in 2012.

The Starak Family Foundation runs additional programs supporting art teachers and students, plus the Spectra Art Space venue promoting Polish artists. The EFC Foundation has expanded to support civic education, cultural institutions like Warsaw's Museum of Modern Art, and journals promoting public discussion.

Both foundations share a vision beyond emergency response. They're building permanent structures that will support Polish society for generations, turning the country's deep-rooted ethos of helping others into sustainable programs with lasting impact.

Poland joined the world's 20 biggest economies in 2025, and its philanthropic culture is finally catching up to match.