New methods for self-sustainability of civil society organizations

An innovative approach to the sustainability of civil society organizations (CSOs) was the theme of a two-day Civica Mobilitas (CM) workshop held in Mavrovo on November 28 and 29, 2022. The workshop was conducted by international and local experts, led by Simon Forrester, CM’s international key expert, and Nathan Koeshall, Director of Catalyst Balkans.

Twenty representatives from CM grantees received both theoretical and practical knowledge on innovative methods for generating funds and achieving CSO sustainability.

During the workshop, participants discussed models and strategies for fundraising that lead to more sustainable CSOs. The program included various models, such as donations, peer-to-peer, membership, crowdfunding, and more. Through group work, participants were introduced to the Canvas model, a tool for comprehensive planning of key partners, resources, activities, relationships, and other aspects to develop a more organized approach to fundraising.

Participants expressed interest in applying some of the new fundraising methods. They emphasized that CSOs need to focus on this topic to overcome traditional fundraising frameworks. In addition to showing strong interest in the workshop, participants noted the need for more frequent workshops and training sessions in the future for higher-quality learning that can be easily applied in their organizations’ daily operations.

The “Innovative Approach to Civil Society Sustainability” workshop is part of Civica Mobilitas’ Learning Program.