What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

How Can Financial Institutions and CSOs Work Together to Ensure Access to Financial Services?

Civil society often faces complex challenges with their access to financial services across the world. These challenges affect the three basic stages of the relationship between banks and CSOs: onboarding CSOs as clients (difficulty opening a bank account, extensive and burdensome due diligence); transaction monitoring and suspending/freezing accounts and transactions; as well as termination (ending

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Restless Development Powershifting Journey from Pogramme delivery to Strengthening Youth Civil Society and Donors’ Role

In a recent article for bond, Restless Development advocates youth leadership for sustainability, yet obstacles hinder intuitive funding. Philanthropy adapts to equity demands, colonial legacies, and potential closures for justice. Hope emerges in adaptable funding models, but progress lags for urgent youth-led initiatives. To address pressing environmental concerns, funders must adopt innovative, flexible mechanisms empowering

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How can Financial Institutions and CSOs Work Together to Ensure Access to Financial Services?

ECNL has shared a list of good practices regarding civil society challenges referring to access of financial services worldwide. These challenges affect the three basic stages of the relationship between banks and CSOs: onboarding CSOs as clients (difficulty opening a bank account, extensive and burdensome due diligence); transaction monitoring and suspending/freezing accounts and transactions; as

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European Day of Foundations and Donors

Since 2013, the annual European Day of Foundations and Donors showcases the European philanthropy sector, promoting the importance of giving and civic action. The article discusses philanthropy’s complex nature, found both in large and well-established organizations, as well as organizations operating on a grass-root level, all contributing to a motivation to do good. Read more

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Unlocking the Power of AI for Fundraising: Boosting Impact in the Digital Age

In the contemporary digital world, NGOs and fundraisers use different innovative tools and technologies, helping them engage with donors, maximize their efforts, and amplify impact. One such tool that has the power to change the fundraising landscape is Artificial Intelligence (AI) which streamlines NGOs operations and personalizes donor experience. Adopting AI in fundraising strategies leads

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How Can Funders Support Meaningful Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Practice in The Field?

The Open Society Foundation’s Fiscal Governance Program found success by focusing on six key approaches, including empowering grantees and relinquishing power. They detail the six different approaches they used in the new publication Setting new standards for better MEL: Lessons for funders and grantees. The approaches range from checking power dynamics to growing skills for evaluative

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Civicus Survey Results: 5 Things Grassroots Activists Want Donors and Allies to Know

Civicus gathered insights from 140 grassroots activists as part of the Grassroots Solidarity Revolution. The responses reflect difficulties organizations face in receiving support from allies and donors, and the measures required for their effective work. The majority of responses reveal that resources and opportunities are limited for most grassroots activists – financial resources are essential,

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Funding Civil Society in Partner Countries: Toolkit for implementing the DAC Recommendation

Funding civil society actors in partner countries remains marginal despite recognition of the importance of localising support and international commitments to strengthening partner-country civil society actors’ ownership. Only 7% of OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members’ CSOs funding goes directly to partner-country CSOs. This OECD toolkit offers providers guidance for funding civil society actors in

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European Commission New Taxonomy Regulation Proposal for Green Transition

The European Commission has revealed a new Taxonomy Regulation proposal aimed at accelerating the green transition. The proposal seeks to establish a comprehensive framework that sets criteria for determining environmentally sustainable economic activities. By providing a classification system, the regulation aims to guide investors, companies, and policymakers in making informed decisions and combatting greenwashing. The

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Greening Social Accountability for Climate Finance

The article focuses on the Global spending on climate change, urging transparency, equity, and inclusion to be at the core of climate finance decision-making. For this, people need green accountability – an approach recognizing that effectively addressing the climate crisis requires harnessing the insights and agency of those most affected by climate impacts. In developing

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Free Guidance to Help Aid Charities Diversify Income

Bond presents a collection of case studies to help INGOs consider alternatives to a traditional grant funding model, to generate their income and avoid funder restrictions whilst shifting both income and power to local communities. These examples present stories of “innovative and sustainable income streams bypassing the limitations that funders place on them”, while assisting

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