was 75. Major problems for Privrednik arose in Zagreb at the beginning of World War II in April 1941. Under the government of the Croatian fascist party, the Ustashi, Privrednik was closed, and the society was banned. Following the war, the Communist government of Yugoslavia began a program of free public education and closed former private schools (even though they were non-profit and funded by wealthy merchants), including the Privrednik program. The society's considerable property — including Matijević's entire estate, valued at $7 million in 1929 — was expropriated by the Communists. Included in the society's holdings were houses and land in Zagreb, and also in several other cities — Sombor, Slavonski Brod, Daruvar, Rijeka, Gospić, Pakrac, and Osijek. From its earliest beginning in 1897 until the "government expropriation" in 1947, the society organized and supported the training and education of almost 40,000 students. As a result, those who completed the program became tradesmen and businessmen, members of a new middle class. Organization Programmatic and organizational activities of the "Privrednik" are divided into: Funds for Scholarships Economic Development Department Youth Department Media Production Department Privrednik has two funds from which awards scholarships Vladimir Matijević Fund and the Ivana Vujnović Fund. Matijevic Fund scholarships provide grants for high school and university students from families of lower-income families. Vujnović Fund scholarships, excellent university students. Economic Development Department provides support to the sector of small and medium-sized businesses, primarily public information, promotional and advisory services, implementation of development projects in order to influence the reconstruction and development of less developed areas where predominantly Serbs lived in Croatia. Media Production Department includes a media presentation of the Privrednik, its mission, and its programmatic activities, but also informs and connects users to the activities of Privrednik. Privrednik issues the Privrednik Magazine, which comes out once a month, every first Friday of the month. See also Serbs of Croatia Serbs of Zagreb Lazar Bačić Aleksa Spasić References External links Donji grad, Zagreb Clubs and societies in Croatia Ethnic organizations based in Yugoslavia Ethnic organizations based in Austria-Hungary Non-profit organizations based in Croatia Organizations established in 1897 Serbian minority institutions and organizations in Croatia