The program provides institutional support for non-governmental organizations and community leaders in Poland, especially in small towns and rural areas. The support includes access to information, advice and training. It leads to improvement of the conditions in which non-profit organizations work and thus to more effective operations and successful implementation of quality civic projects.
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 73 percent of Polish NGOs. The portal is visited by over 3 million users a year, and its data base contains information about 170,000 Polish civic organizations. Additionally, the system consists of the Informatory and Helpline 801-646-719, as well as studies and publications base.
The second path is “EURO-NGO+” – it is aimed at increasing the non-profit organizations’ ability to acquire European Union funds. It is a continuation of PAFF’s “EURO-NGO” Program carried out in 2003-2006, thanks to which Polish NGOs learned about structural funds and increased their competencies, which enabled them to apply successfully for EU funds. The program supported non-profit organizations in building partnerships, advocacy activities and being involved in planning structural funds for the years 2007-2013 and currently – 2014-2020. Information and advocacy activities are carried out by the National Federation of Polish NGOs.
The third path – “NGO Training” – has two components. The first is “Financial Management for NGOs” (“FIM@NGO”) which includes training, counseling and publications for people responsible for financial management of non-profit organizations, mainly those operating beyond major metropolitan areas. All told, during the period 2000-2018 ca. 4,500 people representing 3,000 organizations from all over Poland took advantage of these training opportunities. The training courses are implemented by the Civil Society Development Foundation. The second part, launched in 2013, is a comprehensive education offer for NGO managers, comprised of the “PROMENGO” training program, the “Kursodrom” e-learning platform that has been used by over 5,000 people, and NGO-managing workshops whose main component is the Fundraising Education Program addressed to those who are in charge of raising funds in non-profit organizations. 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, the PAFF has been a co-organizer of the annual meeting of rural organizations in Maróz. Nearly 300 representatives of 160 organizations from different regions of Poland have participated in the meetings which promote integration, experience sharing, the 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 the third sector research which is carried out cyclically.
The Foundation has disbursed $9,859,303, including $817,816 for the current edition of the program.
