“Facilitating Financial Sustainability” (FFS) is a three-year USAID-funded research and testing initiative looking at how local civil society organisations (CSOs) can achieve long-term financial sustainability. The research consortium is led by LINC, in partnership with Peace Direct and the Foundation Center. In 2017, the FFS team conducted research exploring the drivers and support landscape for CSO financial sustainability in Colombia, Mexico, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and the Philippines.
This research has culminated in the publication of three ambitious research papers, which provide key information on how civil society actors, funders, policy makers and other relevant individuals can support and increase local CSO financial sustainability.
In addition to an Executive Summary, this work includes two primary studies: an in-depth analysis of funder strategies to support financial sustainability; and an in-depth analysis of systemic challenges faced by CSOs and successful practices for achieving financial sustainability in various contexts. An overall research synthesis is also available, providing the key lessons learned on strategies and approaches to CSO financial sustainability based on over 100 CSO stakeholder interviews and analysis of over 7,000 grants.
Photo: Peace Direct’s local partner, Kapamagogopa Incorporated (KI), based in the Philippines, who participated in the research for the project.
