The objective of the program is to secure institutional support in form of access to information, advice and training for non-governmental organizations and community leaders in Poland, especially in small towns and rural areas. It facilitates improvement of conditions in which non-profit organizations operate and betters the quality of their management, and that in turn makes their activities more effective and social initiatives more fruitful.
At present, the program operates along three paths.
The first is the “Mutual Information Society” (“MIS@NGO”) – an information system for civil society organizations. Its main component is the ngo.pl portal – the largest Internet service for and about non-governmental organizations in Poland, recognizable by almost 80 percent of NGOs in Poland. The portal is visited by over 3 million users a year, and its data base contains information about 170,000 Polish non-governmental organizations. Additionally, the system consists of the Informatory and Helpline 801-646-719, as well as a collection of studies and publications.
The second path is “EURO-NGO+” – is aimed at improving non-profit organizations’ ability to absorb European Union funds. It is the continuation of PAFF’s “EURO-NGO” Program that was carried out over the years 2003-2006 and thanks to which Polish NGOs learned about structural funds and increased their competencies in successful applying for EU funds. The program supported NGOs in building partnerships, advocacy activities and participating in the process of structural funds planning for the years 2007-2013 and 2014-2020. Information and advocacy activities are carried out by National Federation of Polish NGOs.
The third path – “NGO Training” – has two components. The first is Financial Management for NGOs (FIM@NGO) and includes training, counseling and publications addressed to people responsible for financial management of non-profit organizations, mostly those operating outside major metropolitan areas. During the period 2000-2019 over 4,800 people representing 3,250 organizations from all over Poland took advantage of these training opportunities. The training courses are implemented by Civil Society Development Foundation. The second part, launched in 2013, is a comprehensive educational offer for NGO managers, comprising the PROMENGO training program, the Kursodrom e-learning platform that has been used by almost 5,200 people, and NGO-managing workshops whose main component is Fundraising Education Program addressed to those who are in charge of raising funds for non-profit organizations activities. A supplement to the offer is the Third Sector quarterly, an academic publication on research and analyses of issues important to NGO development in Poland. That part of the program is managed by the Academy of Civic Organizations Foundation established by PAFF.
Additionally, under the program PAFF has been a co-organizer of the annual meeting of rural organizations in Maróz. Each year nearly 300 representatives of 160 organizations from various regions of Poland participate in the meetings which promote integration, experience sharing, acquisition of new knowledge and skills, as well as cooperation. The meetings are organized by the Rural Development Foundation and the “Nida” Development Foundation. PAFF also supports a regular study on the condition of the third sector.
The Foundation has disbursed $10,509,146, including $564,092 for the current edition of the program.
