wingsforum 2010 innovation and impact: the role of grantmaker associations in changing society...
TRANSCRIPT
WINGSForum 2010
Innovation and Impact: The Role of Grantmaker Associations in Changing Society
November 18 - 20, 2010
Association of Slovak Community Foundations
Advocacy: Vital Endeavor or Necessary Evil?
slovakia
facts and figures
Slovak Republic- the „best kept secret“ in Europe
• Facts
• History
• Economy
• Public administration
Philanthropy and the non-profit sector
• Giving traditions
• Environment for philanthropy
• Philanthropic organizations
Association of Slovak Community Foundations
AKNS was created in February 2003, and has nine members at the moment.
ActivitiesPromotion of community foundations, community philanthropyPrograms, ongoing consultancy and support, promotion of givingAdvocacy – identified as priority in 2010 as a part of New Topics in the Association of Community Foundations Project, 2009 – 2012, funded by C. S. Mott Foundation
Mission – umbrella organization
• To represent community foundations
• To advocate for community foundations and philanthropy
• To partner with national corporate donors
• To network members and provide information and guidance
Advocacy AKNS
WHAT
• Issue of language ?
Activities directed at raising people’s engagement into public affairs and making people’s voice
better heard.
• Voter mobilization
• Encouragement and support for development of volunteer – based initiatives and non – profit
organizations, and helping to improve the environment they operate in
• Promotion of democracy - fighting legacy of a post- socialistic country’s history marked by poor civic
engagement and patriotism
Advocacy AKNS
WHY
Priority issue in 2010 – narrowed down to legislation issues
Reasons
• Overall negative attitude towards non – profit organizations, mainly those guarding funds
• Two cases of major injustice done to member foundations
• Development of relevant legislation going from bad to worse
• Elections in 2010 – external factor which could be promising
• Natural part of the portfolio of activities of a member service organization
• Investment into the future
Advocacy AKNS
HOW
1.Planning – how to enter this area with the current capacity and under the current conditions
2.Training - PDCS
3.Assessment - analysis of legislative environment for foundations, impact of new policies – SDF
4.Identification of 3 topics: collection of funds for public benefit should be considered a charitable activity,
Tax incentives, EU funds made more accessible. Additional : bequests.
5.Action taken: organization of round tables to open the topics and find partners. Bequests – raising
awareness campaign.
Advocacy AKNS
WHO
AKNS internal human resources
• Members: involvement into all planned activities
• Coordination team: to coordinate, provide logistical services and prepare PR campaign
Partners
• PDCS, Slovak Donors Forum, partners at the first round table: OSF, CF, CpF, Intenda, Ekopolis, …
• to provide expertise and to add recognition
• to partner with AKNS in future undertakings
Advocacy AKNS
TO WHAT SUCCESS
Planning and training – development of members’ skills and capacity for a joint action
Assessment – current information available, and also provided to other organizations
Identification of 3 topics: gathering members and possibly partners around one or more of widely felt
issues. Identification of new partners.
Action taken: remains to be seen but partners’ interest is promising
Conclusion AKNS
Vital endeavour or necessary evil?
FOR AGAINST
A widely felt need to advocate for (community) foundations
Recognition amongst philanthropic organizations and other institutions, media
New partners
From the perspective of future development: unavoidable for the sake of cultivation of the environment we operate in
Small organization with no real staff and office
Interests of members and partners may be different
Very limited capacity of members
Energy – consuming and long term activities
.thank you.
Katarina Minarova
Asociácia komunitných nadácií Slovenska - Association of Slovak Community Foundations
www.asociaciakns.sk