NGOs and foundations
As countries become more open and civil society becomes more vibrant, there are more and more opportunities for partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other foundations that are introducing programs in countries in which the Soros foundations operate.
NGOs vary in mission, status, origin, structure, and funding arrangements. In many countries of the Soros foundations network, the local NGO sector is still relatively new and sparse. In general, local NGOs are formed and registered in the country. They may rely on local funding or external resources from official or private donors. In most countries, a national foundation of the Soros foundations network is a locally registered NGO that is funded primarily by a grant from a single outside funder and governed by a local board.
International NGOs have branches in many countries. Examples are Amnesty International, the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Medicins Sans Frontières, and Save the Children. International NGOs may be registered locally or not. Many international NGOs are private humanitarian organizations which address emergencies created by armed conflict, civil disturbances, or national disasters. Many international NGOs also undertake longer-term economic development programs as part of a reconstruction effort or assistance to impoverished countries or regions. Although they are privately directed, international NGOs receive a large portion of their funding directly from governments and international organizations. Other sources of financing include private donors, churches, and, in some countries, the national lottery.
Foundations make grants to both local and international NGOs for program delivery and organizational support. Of the many private foundations based in the United States, a few operate in the countries of the Soros foundations network. Examples are the Ford Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation. The opportunities for partnerships with foundations in Europe are limited. In general, tax laws in Western Europe have not encouraged the emergence of private foundations.
In Western Europe, there may be more opportunities for partnerships with foundations that receive part or all of their funding from their governments but operate under private direction. Examples are NOVIB in the Netherlands and the Westminster Foundation in the United Kingdom. These quasi-private foundations often support organizations or activities from which the donor government and its bilateral agency wish to maintain some distance, such as human rights work or independent media.
International NGOs and foundations may have country budgets or program budgets. They may have multi-year programs or may fund or implement ad hoc projects. They may operate country-wide or only in a designated area. The international boards or trustees of these organizations usually allocate funds and define their program priorities, such as protecting the environment, providing services to the local NGO sector, or developing higher education. The greatest opportunity for partnership with foundations and international NGOs lies in the areas where their defined priorities overlap with those of the Soros foundations. There are directories, databases, and information centers in many countries that describe the programs and list contact information for these organizations.
The Soros foundations network acts both as a foundation and an NGO. Thus, there can be various relationships with other NGOs and foundations:
Let's look more closely at relationships between the Soros foundations and NGOs.
It is possible for the Soros foundations to have, at the same time, both a partnership and a contracting relationship with an NGO. For example, a local NGO that has been contracted by a national foundation to design and implement a program may also bring a matching contribution to the effort. In such cases, it is important to clarify to whom the NGO reports. In general, the more central and significant the role of the Soros foundations as a contractor, the greater the accountability of the contracted NGO to the national foundation.
NGOs are attractive partners because they are easily approachable, relatively flexible, and usually less bureaucratic than other types of donors. It may be easier for the Soros foundations to find a common interest or agenda with an NGO partner. The mission and mandate of other NGOs, however, are often more narrowly defined than the Soros foundations' broad aim of building open society. Partner NGOs might offer grass-roots and rural implementation capacity and expertise that is better developed than that of the national foundation. Whereas the Soros foundations are both a funding and implementing organization, many other NGOs concentrate their efforts on direct program delivery.
Because of the wide variation in NGOs, it is important to assess whether an NGO partner is reliable or not.
Factors to consider in building a partnership with an NGO are:
NGO partnerships are often of an ad hoc nature. They may be formed to respond to a crisis or to fill a gap where the government, the private sector, or other donors are not yet able or willing to act. For example, NGO partnerships may deliver emergency relief, teacher training, or credit for small business. The duration and effectiveness of these partnerships should be watched carefully. Ideally, the partnership is dissolved when its aim has been achieved. In the worst cases, an NGO partner may prolong the partnership project in the interest of its own existence and continued funding.
A national foundation often has more resources than other NGOs in the country. The Soros foundations may therefore be seen as a leader among NGOs. One form of partnership is coordination and cooperation with the NGO community in order to mobilize a voice or a concerted role of the NGO sector. This coordination or facilitation by a national foundation can be an important contribution to building civil society.
NGOs and foundations can be partners in the design and delivery of a project or in matching their resources.
The Soros foundations can be involved in NGO working alliances which address NGO sector issues or coordinate NGO efforts.
Foundations can request and fund the development and implementation of a specific project by other local and international NGOs.
Local and international NGOs can receive grants from the Soros foundations and other foundations to finance projects initiated by these NGOs.
