1. Association of Slovak Community Foundations
WINGSForum 2010
Innovation and Impact: The Role of Grantmaker Associations in Changing Society
November , 2010
Association of Slovak Community Foundations
Advocacy: Vital Endeavor or Necessary Evil?

2. slovakia facts and figures
Slovak Republic- the „best kept secret“ in Europe
Facts
History
Economy
Public administration
Philanthropy and the non-profit sector
Giving traditions
Environment for philanthropy
Philanthropic organizations

3. Association of Slovak Community Foundations
Mission – umbrella organization
To represent community foundations
To advocate for community foundations and philanthropy
To partner with national corporate donors
To network members and provide information and guidance
AKNS was created in February 2003, and has nine members at the moment.
Activities Promotion of community foundations, community philanthropy Programs, ongoing consultancy and support, promotion of giving Advocacy – identified as priority in as a part of New Topics in the Association of Community Foundations Project, 2009 – 2012, funded by C. S. Mott Foundation

4. Advocacy AKNS WHAT Issue of language ?
Activities directed at raising people’s engagement into public affairs and making people’s voice better heard.
Voter mobilization
Encouragement and support for development of volunteer – based initiatives and non – profit organizations, and helping to improve the environment they operate in
Promotion of democracy - fighting legacy of a post- socialistic country’s history marked by poor civic engagement and patriotism

5. Advocacy AKNS
WHY
Priority issue in 2010 – narrowed down to legislation issues
Reasons
Overall negative attitude towards non – profit organizations, mainly those guarding funds
Two cases of major injustice done to member foundations
Development of relevant legislation going from bad to worse
Elections in 2010 – external factor which could be promising
Natural part of the portfolio of activities of a member service organization
Investment into the future

6. Advocacy AKNS
HOW
Planning – how to enter this area with the current capacity and under the current conditions
Training - PDCS
Assessment - analysis of legislative environment for foundations, impact of new policies – SDF
Identification of 3 topics: collection of funds for public benefit should be considered a charitable activity, Tax incentives, EU funds made more accessible. Additional : bequests.
Action taken: organization of round tables to open the topics and find partners. Bequests – raising awareness campaign.

7. Advocacy AKNS WHO AKNS internal human resources
Members: involvement into all planned activities
Coordination team: to coordinate, provide logistical services and prepare PR campaign
Partners
PDCS, Slovak Donors Forum, partners at the first round table: OSF, CF, CpF, Intenda, Ekopolis, …
to provide expertise and to add recognition
to partner with AKNS in future undertakings

8. Advocacy AKNS TO WHAT SUCCESS
Planning and training – development of members’ skills and capacity for a joint action
Assessment – current information available, and also provided to other organizations
Identification of 3 topics: gathering members and possibly partners around one or more of widely felt issues. Identification of new partners.
Action taken: remains to be seen but partners’ interest is promising

9. Vital endeavour or necessary evil?
Conclusion AKNS
Vital endeavour or necessary evil?
FOR
AGAINST
A widely felt need to advocate for (community) foundations
Recognition amongst philanthropic organizations and other institutions, media
New partners
From the perspective of future development: unavoidable for the sake of cultivation of the environment we operate in
Small organization with no real staff and office
Interests of members and partners may be different
Very limited capacity of members
Energy – consuming and long term activities

10. .thank you. Katarina Minarova minarova@asociaciakns.sk
Asociácia komunitných nadácií Slovenska - Association of Slovak Community Foundations