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Description
Lithuanian NGOs are still relying on public sector grants and funding, do not prioritize fundraising as a strategic goal of the organization even, though at the same time, the huge potential of fundraising from individual or business donors is not being exploited. The NGO sector is particularly weak in terms of fundraising and diversification of funding resources: organizations do not have sufficient fundraising competencies and are not allocating needed resources for high-quality fundraising activities. There is no ongoing training programme for fundraisers in the country. NGO staff is lacking trainings provided by international experts, platform dedicated for transferring and disseminating the best practices and ethical standards adopted sector-wide. Small/regional NGOs have no opportunities to take over effective fundraising practices that have been successfully implemented with limited resources.
Responding to the needs of NGOs, aiming to strengthen the financial sustainability of the Lithuanian NGO sector by creating a model for developing the fundraisers’ competencies and forming community of professionals. During the project, first extended fundraisers’ competency development program will be created and implemented in Lithuania. Also, a unique portal Fundraising.lt will be launched as well as national and international networking activities for fundraisers from Lithuanian NGOs. The project is targeted to the current fundraisers, decision makers in NGOs, volunteers and employees of small/regional NGOs and prospective fundraisers who at the moment are exploring opportunities to work in the sector.
Long-term project result – qualitative improvement of NGO fundraising processes, that will contribute to the significant growth of giving, diversification of funding resources, and development of philanthropic culture in Lithuania. This is one of the most important factors for building capacity and increasing sustainability of civil society organizations
Summary of project results
Lithuanian NGOs were still relying on public sector grants and funding, did not prioritize fundraising as a strategic goal of the organization. Huge existing potential of fundraising from individual and business donors was proven by big growth of philanthropy during COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine. The NGO sector was particularly weak in terms of fundraising and diversification of funding resources. There were no ongoing training programs for fundraisers in the country. NGO staff was lacking trainings provided by international experts, platform dedicated for transferring and disseminating the best practices. Small/regional NGOs had no opportunities to take over effective fundraising practices that could be successfully implemented with limited resources.
Responding to the needs of NGOs, Geros valios projektai together with partner Slovak Fundraising Centre initiated project FUNDRAISING.LT, aiming to strengthen the financial sustainability of the Lithuanian NGO sector by creating a model for developing the fundraisers’ competencies and forming community of professionals
During the project, lasting 27 months, first extended fundraisers’ competency development program has been created and implemented in Lithuania. Also, a unique portal Fundraising.lt has been launched as well as many others national and international networking activities for fundraisers from Lithuanian NGOs. The project was targeted to the current fundraisers, decision makers in NGOs, volunteers and employees of small/regional NGOs and prospective fundraisers who now are exploring opportunities to work in the sector.
Long-term project result – qualitative improvement of NGO fundraising processes, that will contribute to the significant growth of giving, diversification of funding resources, and development of philanthropic culture in Lithuania. This is one of the most important factors for building capacity and increasing sustainability of civil society organizations