Foundation for Social and Economic Initiatives Conditions of financing of CSOs Anna Sienicka Foundation for Social and Economic Initiatives Council for Public Benefit

NGOs in Poland 63 228 associatios and foundations Only 17% of NGOs applied for EU funds. 10% of NGOs received the funding (55% of those NGOs which applied). Data from 2004-2008

Boundary conditions Boundary conditions: It is estimated that only 15% of Polish NGOs are able to apply for EU funds. Boundary conditions: - budget higher than 5 000 EUR - employees - professional accounting - bank account - activity in one of the support field

Boundary conditions - budget higher than 5 000 EUR (40,20%) A not written rule. The lowest project budget is 7 500 EUR (only 40 NGOs had project budget lower than 25 000 EUR).

Annual income of NGOs 18,2% of NGOs - lower than 250 EUR 23,9% of NGOs - lower than 2 500 EUR 35,5% of NGOs - between 25 000 EUR and 250 000 EUR 50% of NGOs – lower than 2 500 EUR 5,6% of NGOs - higher than 250 000 EUR

Boundary conditions - professional accounting (58,10%) - employees (25,8%), low skilled workers Well developed organizational employment structure, and management. Reporting system is based on financial reports. Strict and detailed rules. Documentation, certification, complicated procedures (public procurement), external audits. -

- bank account (84,0%) - activity in one of the support field (85,4%) Boundary conditions - bank account (84,0%) - activity in one of the support field (85,4%)

Barriers for applying lack of experience - weak employment structure, low skilled workers financial situation - financial flow, financial guarantees, low income, in-kind bureaucracy – financial report obligations no access to information

Recommendations Small grants. Focusing on the quality. Improvement of cash flow procedures. Simple, effective financial reporting system.

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