1. Report on the funding situation of EAPN National Networks
EAPN Funding Seminar
Report on the funding situation of EAPN National Networks
Input Tanya Basarab
EAPN Development Officer
8-9 May 2009, Brussels

2. EAPN FUNDING FRAMEWORK SUSTAINABLE FINANCING GROUP
FUNDING REPORT
EAPN DEMANDS

3. EAPN FUNDING FRAMEWORK

4. Context

5. SUSTAINABLE FINANCING FOR NNs GROUP

6. Structure and aims
6 representatives of NNs responsible for fundraising or financial management
Identify challenges and obstacles
Help map the funding reality of NNs
Support organization of a funding seminar
Develop proposals and recommendations

7. Mapping the funding reality - questionnaire
Questions around:
Budget and its administration
Conditions and barriers to funding
What NNs understand by finances
EAPN support to strengthen NNs funding capacity

8. FUNDING REPORT

9. Some comments on the content
15 NNs + Poverty Alliance from Scotland
Brief information
Some data hard to compare (ex: time spent fundraising)
Specific examples to illustrate the situation… more are needed!
More information necessary for some questions (co-funding, private fundraising…)
Conclusions common to most members

10. Total budget
Big difference from no funds (EAPN Lithuania) to € (Portugal)
5 NNs budget between €
7 NNs budget between – €
2 NNs > €
2 NNs > €
1 NN > €
1 NN > €
1 NN > €
1 NN > €

11. Sources and spending
Sources of funding:
9 NNs > 50% of public funding (funds coming directly from public authorities)
15 NNs > 50% of private funding (including member fees, EAPN contributions and private funding)
Division of spending:
15 NN > 50% project funding
5 NN > 50% core costs but generally very small budgets

12. Is funding available for…
Promoting the European dimension/agenda – little or no funds
Target group activities – available for service provision mainly
Working on poverty in general – little or no funds
Lobby work – few or no funds (except LX and NO); in some cases conditioned not to use funds on lobby
Services – available
Promoting participation of people experiencing poverty - available in some countries. Are they sufficient?

13. Barriers Low capacity to manage large projects
Difficulties with co-funding
Lack of public funds to cover core costs
Not enough cooperation with foundations
Lack of resources to do fundraising
(for some) competition from other organisations in the sector

14. Strengths Flexibility Strong motivation and volunteering Commitment
Unique purpose and credibility with governments
Building own experience on developing participation of people experiencing poverty
Wide network of various actors
Experience in project management

15. Weaknesses Insufficiency of resources
Getting government commitment to fund lobby and participation
Making the network representative
Building the capacity to manage large-scale projects
Government commitment to long-term funding

16. Conclusion
NNs and anti poverty NGOs are struggling to get core costs covered
lack of funding for developing participation of people experiencing poverty
Lack of funding for advocacy with few exceptions
Lack of funding to link national with European work
The economic crisis puts more pressure on anti poverty NGOs

17. EAPN DEMANDS

18. EAPN Demands Develop a lobby strategy to:
Set up funding programmes on poverty to cover core costs of NGOs
Increase funding for NGOs addressing the needs of vulnerable groups, especially in the economic crisis
Set up participation mechanisms for people experiencing poverty and finance them adequately
Stop the conditioning of funds against lobby work
Fund work that links European with national and local anti poverty work

19. Some Questions Lobby for anti poverty work in general or for EAPN NNs?
lobby for participation only or include service provision in the scope?
How do we bridge policy making with project implementation?
How do NNs manage the question of co-funding?
What is the financial relation with EAPN Europe?