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Description
The Donors'' Forum in Poland is an association of foundations and associations whose goals are to advocate for good laws for social organisations and donors and to strengthen the capacity of philanthropic institutions.
In 2006 Forum fought to maintain PIT and CIT relief for donors, in 2007 it stopped a draft of a new law on foundations that extended the minister''s supervision. In 2009-14, the Forum coordinated the work of a group of around 40 organisations seeking a new law on public collections. In 2018, it opposed an amendment to this law, which threatened a return to government licensing of collections. More than 600 organisations and 110,000 citizens signed appeals opposing the changes.
In 2021 Forum, together with OFOP, drafted a position paper on the draft NGO reporting law, which was signed by more than 40 federations. As a result, the next version of the draft no longer contains provisions obliging organisations to disclose donor data.
In 2012-15 The Forum together with 45 foundations developed standards for the operation of corporate foundations. They define the rules for the provision of support, the principles for building relations with stakeholders and the financing of foundations. Regularly, every 5 years, in cooperation with the Klon/Jawor Association, the Forum conducts a survey of corporate foundations.
Currently the Forum is leading a debate in the 3rd sector on good foundation law, the conclusions of the seminars, workshops and survey, will be used to develop recommendations in this respect.
Thanks to the institutional grant, the Forum plans to increase the visibility of the organisation and broaden its membership base, which will translate into greater financial stability of the organisation (70% financed by contributions). It will develop the shape of the Polish Organisations'' Climate Commitment and help organisations to implement it, conduct another survey of corporate foundations and update the operating standards for this group.
Summary of project results
Polish Donors Forum is an organisation that has been working for 20 years to promote effective philanthropy based on knowledge, the highest standards and adequate funding. The Donors Forum also advocates for better laws for foundations, associations and donors. One of its successes was to get a new law on public collections passed in 2014, which made it much easier to raise private funds and contributed to the development of philanthropy in Poland. In 2023. Forum published a ‘Manifesto of Good Law for Foundations’ and ‘Recommendations for the Development of Legal Regulations on Foundations’. In 2012-15. The Forum together with 45 foundations developed standards for the operation of corporate foundations. Regularly, every 5 years, in cooperation with the Klon/Jawor Association, the Forum conducts a survey of corporate foundations.
Thanks to the organisational grant, the Donors Forum has been able to develop a programme of encouraging CSOs to get involved in tackling climate change. The Forum''s activities are based on the premise that climate change affects all areas of life and therefore all CSOs, whatever their primary focus, should include environmental action in their daily work. The Donors Forum has developed a ‘Declaration of Social Organisations for Climate’, which has been signed by almost 50 organisations. It has also organised a series of educational meetings to disseminate the content of the declaration, good practices and best practices that can be implemented in each organisation. The collected material is available at: https://klimat.forumdarczyncow.pl/
The Donors Forum has developed research and educational activities addressed to corporate foundations. Together with the Klon/Jawor Association it conducted a survey of corporate foundations in Poland and updated the manual ‘Standards of operation of corporate foundations’ and supplemented it with a list of current trends and good practices. The Forum has developed a strategy for its brand, a communication plan for the coming years and promotional materials, thanks to which the number of its member organisations and its income from membership fees is gradually increasing, which affects its financial stability.
The most important result of the organisational grant is increased knowledge and skills of people in CSOs in minimising the negative climate impact of the organisation and to encourage CSOs to implement specific changes resulting from the ‘Declaration of CSOs for Climate’. The Forum has also developed a collaboration of CSOs in advocacy activities, and intends to continue coordinating this informal group. Thanks to the organisational grant, the organisation has also been able to engage in advocacy at the European level to a greater extent than before and to cooperate with its key partner, the National Federation of Non-Governmental Organisations. The Donors'' Forum has also increased its financial stability thanks to an increase in income from membership fees.