Recommendations for Funders from Guatemalan NGOs
These recommendations are taken from "Guatemalan NGOs: A Funder's Directory to 145 Local, Regional and National NGOs," by Victoria Sanford; an extremely useful project funded by the Shaler Adams Foundation in November 1996.
- Visit NGOs.
- Provide feedback on how to improve proposed project.
- Help provide or facilitate technical assistance.
- Provide support for institutional development.
- Offer moral and financial support.
- Provide technical assistance for improving handling of finances.
- Help facilitate collaboration with other NGOs.
- Go to communities and meet with beneficiaries, not just NGO leaders.
- Have clear, concise agreements and expectations in writing.
- Provide guidance in project evaluations.
- As much as possible, provide assistance directly to communities or community NGOs.
- Recognize that community priorities may be somewhat different from foundation priorities.
- When miscommunication occurs, create a space for dialogue and compromise.
- Be flexible about shifts in NGO strategies -- especially in rural communities.
- Support programs for enough time for them to become independent.
- Recognize that self-sufficiency, especially amongst the very poor, will not come quickly.
- Know that the majority of Guatemalan NGOs are registered NGOs (they may be registered at the municipal, departmental or national level) and fall within the legal definition of a U.S. 501(c)(3) for grantmaking purposes.
- Help NGOs develop working Boards of Directors, personnel structures and internal accountability.
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