Financial crisis hurts funding to NGOs

(December 21, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The financial crises in the west would result in a shrinking of funds for NGOs in this part of the world as government resources in countries such as the US get diverted elsewhere, a recent workshop in Colombo was told.

Speaking at the opening of the 5th South Asian Regional Workshop on Resource Mobilisation, Sri Lanka’s Centre for Advancement of Resource Mobilisation (CARM) Chairman, T. Someswaran said that private philanthropy from rich Asians has always been thin unlike their counterparts in the west such as John Rockefeller, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet who have gone on to define the structure of modern philanthropy.

“I am not saying that rich people in Asia do not give to philanthropy. The hitch is that when rich Asians give, they give to temples and holy men. But that seems to be changing somewhat. Azim Premji, one of India’s richest men, has said he will leave the bulk of his fortune in a foundation (just like what Bill Gates),” he pointed out.

The CARM chairman said non-profit organisations are admired for their passionate commitment to mission and their inventive approaches to addressing urgent social problems. Around the world, they are implementing programmes that are improving the quality of life for tens of millions of people, and they are often doing so against heavy odds and with very limited resources.

Speaking on sustainability, he said the factors like beneficiaries, funds, human resources and media attention which govern sustainability are scarce.

“Most non-profits would like to receive frequent positive media coverage. Media coverage of any kind is free advertising, and when it's positive it has the added benefit of enhancing the credibility of an organization. Yes, the media has a notorious and insatiable appetite for scandal in the non-profit sector. But if one can overcome these obstacles and garner positive press to an organization on a regular basis, the resulting increase in public awareness of the organisation’s work or cause will put it ahead of the pack,” he noted.

While few organisations have the resources to dedicate a full-time person to attract and influence media coverage, even a limited application of resources, on a consistent basis, can have an impact on media coverage of an organization, Mr Someswaran .- Sri Lanka Guardian