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Program funded by The Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe
Polish Third Sector, the popular name for non-governmental organizations or NGOs, is large and diverse. However, NGOs face numerous challenges such as unclear legislation, insufficient collaboration with the public and private sectors and lack of sustainable funding sources. International studies on the development of the Third Sector position Poland behind Hungary, Latvia and Lithuania. The non-governmental sector in Poland must be supported considerably, especially today, when traditional institutional donors are leaving the region. The indigenous philanthropy is still underdeveloped and rules concerning the availability of EU funds remain vague.
In January 2003, the Batory Foundation launched a four-year Third Sector Program designed to support civil society in Poland. Similar programs are implemented in 6 other CEE countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary.
The Third Sector Program is designed to increase the institutional capacity of the non-profit sector, strengthen its funding base and create a favorable legal and fiscal environment for the development of philanthropy in Poland. The major goals of the program include:
- developing a long-term strategy of growth (both for the whole sector and particular organizations);
- promoting a model of partnership and shared responsibility (among the non-governmental organizations and in relation with public and corporate sectors);
- introducing new models of raising funds and generating income for social initiatives (by big foundations and small local organizations).
The above tasks are realized by our partners invited by us to develop projects within four modules of the Program:
- Development of long term strategy of the third sector's growth:
Partner organizations:
Institute of Public Affairs
KLON/JAWOR Association
Working Community of Associations of Social Organizations (WRZOS)
The Foundation provides financial support to three-year projects managed by our partners that involve:
- Research into the condition of NGOs and various aspects of their operations such as their relations with national and local government, use of volunteers and philanthropy. Findings are disseminated through publications and a web portal: www.ngo.pl.
- Analytical studies discussed in seminars and published in a specialist quarterly magazine that serve as a foundation for policy making in the Third Sector.
- Monitoring of legislation regulating NGOs. Findings form the basis of advocacy for a better legislative environment and improved administrative practice for NGOs.
More information on the projects is available on the pages of our partner organizations.
- Creating mechanisms of co-operation, networking and advocacy/Partnership for the third sector
Partner organizations:
Foundation for the Development of Local Democracy
The Foundation supports two-year projects managed by our partners aimed at building the third sector representation and advocacy for NGOs and their clients at the regional level, developing cooperation between non-governmental organizations and establishing partner relations of the non-profit sector with public administration at the local and regional level. The projects strive also to ensure NGO participation in structural funds programming and distribution by bringing NGO representatives into monitoring and steering committees in all Polish provinces.
More information on the projects is available on the pages of our partner organizations.
- Promoting new models of funding local community initiatives
Partner organizations:
Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland
Environmental Partnership Foundation
The Foundation provides financial support to three-year projects managed by our partners and aimed to disseminate innovative philanthropy models. We support fundraising and local coalition building methodologies that benefit from the collaborative network of NGOs, local government, business and private donors to form a sustainable funding source for initiatives that respond to local community needs.
Community Foundations
We support activities of the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland which through training, consulting and financial assistance strives to reinforce the 12 existing and establish 10 new community foundations, i.e. local non-governmental organizations which receive local donations and redistribute funds in the form of grants awarded to local initiatives while building an endowment to ensure long term grant making capability.
Partnership Groups
We support the project of the Polish Environmental Partnership Foundation that aims to help create Partnership Groups, i.e. coalitions for development of regions with common traditions, similar economic and social conditions, which consist of NGOs, public institutions (local governments, cultural centres, museums, nature parks, etc.) and local businesses. Over 3 years, the project will help 20 partnership groups achieve organizational sustainability to allow them to run their own programs at the local and regional level and raise USD 2,5 million to support their actions.
Corporate Citizenship
We support philanthropy and corporate social involvement by co-funding two key campaigns run by the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland. The first one, organized around the Benefactor of the Year contest, promotes corporate social responsibility. The other campaign concentrates on promoting private philanthropy and encourages the use of the 1% tax break in lieu of making a donation to a public benefit organization. The special page at www.jedenprocent.pl is an element of this campaign.
More information on the projects is available on the pages of our partner organizations.
- Institutional development of non-governmental organizations
We support the process of building the financial and institutional stability of civic organizations, the activity of which has a key impact for social and third sector development. In 2003 we invited non-governmental organizations active in different spheres of social life to apply for grants designed to build their institutional and financial stability, The grants were offered to organizations that have a large client base, focus on problem solving in areas not generally addressed by others, capable of being role models for other institutions or demonstrating an innovative, unique and non-stereotypical profile.
As part of an open contest, we offered NGOs two types of grants:
- capital grants (from EUR 150,000 to 400,000) designated for creating organization’s endowment
- strategic grants (with a maximum amount of EUR 100,000) designated for organization’s institutional development (improving staff qualifications, development of material resources, preparation of the organization to undertake new program activities or activities intended to attain financial independence) and for creation of financial reserves.
In 2003-2004 18 organizations were selected in a two-stage process to receive 12 strategic and 6 endowment grants of the total amount of EUR 2 370 000. The disbursement of grants is spread over the period of 2004-2005.
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