Many institutional funders have an instinctive preference for bigger, better-resourced civil society organisations (CSOs). The rationale is that such an approach leads to better outreach and impact monitoring, due to economies of scale. This contribution to the 2015 CIVICUS State of Civil Society Report challenges this pattern of support for larger, more formalised CSOs, as opposed to community-based organisations. The perspective is derived from the work of the Global Fund for Community Foundations, which gives small grants to organisations that promote philanthropy in local communities, and operates in ways that differ markedly from conventional donor support. Continue reading (PDF).
Avila Kilmurray is the Director of the Global Fund for Community Foundations. Barry Knight is an adviser of the Global Fund for Community Foundations and the Executive Director of CENTRIS. Download the full report from the WINGS Knowledge Center.