The purpose of the program is to support non-governmental organizations and community leaders in Poland, especially in small towns and villages, by providing them with information, guidance, and training. This improves management quality in third-sector organizations and strengthens their potential, leading to better efficiency and improved effectiveness of social undertakings.
The program operates along three paths.
The first, “Mutual Information Society” (“MIS@NGO”) – is an information system for civil society organizations, the main component of which is the Non-governmental Organizations Portal ngo.pl – the largest Polish portal about civil society, recognized by almost 80% of NGOs in Poland. Visited annually by more than 4 million users, its database contains information about nearly 180,000 Polish non-governmental organizations. The system also includes the Informatory and Helpline 801-646-719 (around 5,000 consultations a year), as well as research and publications.
The second path, “EURO-NGO+”, aims to increase NGO capacity of acquiring EU funds. This is the continuation of the 2003-2006 PAFF “EURO-NGO” program which helped Polish non-governmental organizations obtain knowledge about structural funds and raise their competencies, thus enabling them to apply for EU grants with greater effectiveness. NGOs were granted support in building partnerships, advocacy, and participating in planning structural funds for 2007-2013 and then 2014-2020. In this respect, the National Federation of Polish NGOs (OFOP) is responsible for information and advocacy.
The third path, “NGO Training” – has two components. The first, “Financial Management for NGOs” (FIMANGO), consists in providing training, guidance, and publications to persons responsible for financial management in non-profit organizations, mostly those operating outside major metropolitan areas. In total, nearly 5,500 representatives from almost 3,500 organizations from across Poland participated in such trainings in the years 2000-2020. Training efforts were carried out by the Civil Society Development Foundation. Last year, due to the pandemic, the bulk of training activity was performed online.
The second part, launched in 2013, is a comprehensive educational offer for NGO managers, consisting of the “PROMENGO” training program, the “Kursodrom” e-learning platform that has been used already by 6,300 users, and workshops in NGO management whose most important element is the Fundraising Education Program addressed to people who are focused on obtaining funds for non-profit organizations. The Third Sector quarterly completes the offer. It is a scientific publication wholly dedicated to research and analysis of issues pertinent to the development of NGOs in Poland. This part is executed by the Academy of Civic Organizations Foundation created by PAFF.
Additionally, PAFF co-organizes the annual nation-wide meetings of rural civic organizations in Maróz under this program. Each such event, aimed at integration, experience exchange, cooperation, acquiring knowledge and skills, is attended by more than 300 representatives of nearly 160 organizations from all over Poland. The meetings are organized by the Rural Development Foundation and the “Nida” Development Foundation. In 2021 the leading theme of the meeting was civic, legal and environmental education.
PAFF also supports regular research on the condition of the third sector in Poland.
The Foundation has disbursed $15,273,552, including $806,446 for the current edition of the program.
