The institutional sustainability of some of its member networks remains to be a key concern for CODE-NGO. The network made some decisive steps to help its members find effective strategies for sustainability by organizing a series of seminars to study more about some resource-building options, such as setting up earned income ventures or consultancy services, tapping migrant philanthropy, establishing a community foundation, partnering with corporate foundations and seeking the support of local funding institutions for networking and capacity-building programs. The CODE-NGO National Board also recently created a Committee on Network Sustainability to further pursue these actions.
CODE-NGO organized a series of resource-building seminars on sustaining NGO networks for its members from July to October 2010 in Quezon City. Representatives from some member networks as well as their respective base member NGOs actively participated in the sessions, i.e. AF, EVNet, CORDNET, NCSD, PBSP, PHILDHRRA and PHILSSA. From Naga City, CBD joined a session via skype.
Respected resource persons shared their expertise and insights on the following topics on how NGO networks can sustain their organizations and their programs:
- Ashoka Fellow and Ateneo School of Government Dean Tony La Vina talked on the importance of “Having an Entrepreneurial Mindset in Doing Social and Economic Development Work“;
- Worlwide Initiatives for Grantmakers Support (WINGS) Executive Director Marissa Camacho expounded on “Setting Up Earned Income, Service Fees and Consultancy Services“;
- Institute for Migration and Development Studies Executive Director Jeremiah Opiniano discussed about “Migrant Philanthropy” or tapping the support of Filipinos abroad who wish to give back to their home country;
- Association of Foundations Executive Director Oman Jiao and Pondong Batangan’s Fr. Manny Guazon talked on how “Community Foundations” are set up;
- League of Corporate Foundations Executive Director Eli Castro discussed what Corporate Foundations look for in community-based partner organizations to implement their corporate social responsibility programs; and
- Executive directors of the local funding institutions (LFIs), namely Veronica Villavicencio of the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF), Jay Lacsamana of the Foundation for Sustainable Societies (FSSI), Enrica Aquino of Foundation for Philippine Environment (FPE) and Atty. Jose Canivel of the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF) sat with CODE-NGO network representatives for a dialogue on supporting NGO networks.
It was agreed that, among these resource-building options, the member networks can pursue specific option/s that would fit their needs and capacities, while CODE-NGO as a network can further engage the LFIs and corporate foundations to support network strengthening needs of its members.
To cap off the seminar series, a buzz session on identifying specific projects or partnership mechanisms with the LFIs was held during the CODE-NGO 14th General Assembly (GA) on November 19, 2010. Facilitated by Treasurer Felicitas Rixhon, the session produced the following key agreements: 1) recommending to LFIs the creation of a Development Challenge Fund – a fund to match resources raised by networks for endowment fund-building, and Block Grant to support NGO networks’ capacity-building initiatives, e.g. research and development, model-building, knowledge management and sharing of best practices, etc.; 2) seeking representation in the Board of LFIs, 3) NGO networks to learn more about Social Entrepreneurship; and 4) NGO networks to beef up their human resource development and organization development initiatives; among others.
Following the buzz session, the CODE-NGO 14th GA also passed a resolution calling all its member networks and organizations to further strengthen their resource building efforts, as well as to sustain dialogues with the LFIs for the creation of the Development Challenge Fund and Block Grant window for network strengthening initiatives.
CODE-NGO representatives have already met with the executive directors of the 4 LFIs to discuss the GA resolution. Also, to further support these initiatives, the CODE-NGO National Board decided last 02 March 2011 in its meeting to create the Committee on Network Sustainability, headed by Mr. Oman Jiao of the Association of Foundations (AF). Among the initial steps planned by the committee include mapping of local NGO networks and LFIs’ partners and their core programs/competencies, as well as a roadshow with LFIs around the country on project conceptualization and planning workshops with NGO networks and potential project implementing partners. — by Timothy Salomon, Project Assistant for Membership.