2025-2026 Annual Letter

You know that feeling of opening an update from a startup you’ve backed with the mix of anticipation, pride and curiosity about what’s been built since you last checked in? That’s how I feel writing to you now. And I hope that’s how this update will feel for you, as a reminder that you’re a part of something growing, evolving and becoming stronger than ever.

Thanks to visionary supporters like you, RUF has continued to grow into a global force for Romanian diaspora engagement. I’m excited to share what your support has made possible and where we’re headed next.

We’ve always tried to do more with less, but this past year has been about more than effort. It’s been about scale. Precision. And a bigger, bolder vision coming into focus.

Here’s what that has looked like.

2024 at a Glance:
• 22 global projects coordinated (not including events)
• 150+ volunteers mobilized across 54 countries
• Strategic partnerships launched with the Ministry of Education, University of Bucharest, Techsylvania, HowToWeb and more
• Our first chapter launched in Las Vegas, with 5 more planned for 2026
• Circle, our digital community platform, went live (our new engine for scale)
• Youth programs expanded: College Ambassadors, mentoring, immersive experiences

This level of growth was only possible because our internal foundation has never been stronger. Our team expanded from 6 to 12 paid staff (working part-time but contributing far more) and our leadership is more aligned and focused than ever. Across the board, from governance to operations, we’ve leveled up.
And yes, we’ve had to stretch every dollar. But we’ve made it work, and the outcomes speak for themselves.

What We’re Focused on in 2025:
• Fully activating our online platform (Circle) to power the community
• Growing our U.S. chapter network, starting with Vegas
• Running the #200Angels Campaign — our goal: 100 new recurring donors by September
• Continuing to build the backbone of the Romanian diaspora’s global infrastructure

All of this ladders up to our long-term vision: GlobalRomania.

Everything we’re building at RUF flows from one core strategy; one that’s bold, long-term and laser-focused on impact. We believe that in 5 to 7 years, the Romanian diaspora can hold global influence. And in 15 years, it can play a transformational role in Romania’s future.

GlobalRomania is our 7-year blueprint to connect the top 50,000 Romanians worldwide and empower them to create systemic global impact.

We’re making progress through:
• #300Bridges – Local ambassadors building trust and relationships in 300 cities
• Chapters – On-the-ground communities of action across the U.S. and beyond
• Youth – Programs for future leaders through mentorship, internships and immersive learning
• Technology – Circle as the backbone of connection, learning and coordination
• Partnerships – Deep collaborations with institutions in Romania and internationally

It’s ambitious. It’s hard. But it’s working. And we’re ready to take it to the next level.

From a fundraising perspective:

This is the vision that’s guiding everything we do. And it’s also what prompted one of the most important strategic shifts we’ve made to date.

For six years, we’ve led with impact on the ground in Romania. We raised funds for frontline causes. We built donation tools. We moved quickly in times of crisis. But in 2024, we made the decision to shift focus from immediate response to long-term sustainability.

Also, we’re no longer actively fundraising for causes in Romania (though the donation platform remains available for direct giving). Instead, we’re investing in RUF’s capacity to serve the diaspora community at scale.

That includes doubling our diaspora nonprofit microgrants program — from $10,000 to $20,000 annually — to fuel other organizations doing exceptional work aligned with our mission. These funds come from donors like you and from our endowment fund.

Financially, here’s where we stand:

When RUF was started, I seeded our endowment with $1 million. As of December 31, 2024, we have $571,000 remaining, including:
• ~$100,000 was earmarked for education
• ~$100,000 for the microgrants fund (About $80,000 remains in each category)

2024 Operating Budget: $280,000
2025 Projected Budget: $450,000 (We’ve already slightly exceeded that due to necessary investments in team and technology.)

Right now, $200,000/year comes from recurring donors and small grants. The rest, roughly $250,000/year, is being covered by the endowment.

That gives us a two-year runway but only if we freeze our growth. And we’re not planning to do that.

Which brings me to what we’re doing next:

We launched our #200Angels Campaign — a focused effort to welcome 100 new recurring donors. But we’re also preparing a much larger push: a plan to raise $1–1.5 million to replenish and grow the RUF Endowment, securing our operational backbone and enabling us to expand impact with confidence.

This is the inflection point. After years of proving what’s possible, we’re now building for permanence - not just programs that run, but a platform that lasts. And this is where you come in.

If you’ve read this far, thank you. It means you believe, as I do, that this community has the power to shape Romania’s future and redefine what diaspora engagement can look like.

If this update resonates (the growth, the vision, the strategy), we would love to reconnect. Gabriela or Adriana may also reach out soon as they’re part of this next phase; and of course, I’m always happy to talk directly.

Thank you for believing in this vision. Thank you for standing with us. And thank you for making all of this possible.

With appreciation 🙏🙏,
Mihai