Strengthening organizational and human resources for philanthropy
We provide support for capacity-building activities at both the regional and national levels.
At the regional level. We support various training programs on a broad range of issues affecting the management and organization of nonprofits. Courses have included programs on effective nonprofit boards, financial sustainability and fundraising techniques for nonprofit organizations.
Exchange programs. We have also worked with other Asia-Pacific institutions in organizing “exchange” programs for grantmakers, legal experts and NGO leaders. Through these exchanges, individuals from Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines have been able to visit and learn from philanthropic activities of institutions in the US and in other Asia Pacific countries.
Improving nonprofit accountability. In line with our aim to develop a more responsible non-profit sector in the region, we recently published a comprehensive Accounting Guide for Non Profit Organizations. Immediately following its publication, APPC submitted the Guide to the International Accounting Standards Board, with a request that the IASB begin the process of setting international standards for the non-profit sector.
The Accounting Guide was initially used in a training of trainers workshop held by APPC in Bangkok, so that the Guide and its principles would be disseminated among NPOs in each participating country.
This publication marks the end of our Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) Project, which surveyed accounting issues and practices in seven Asian societies – Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand.
At the national level. Our support for national level networking activities have two expected outcomes: increased awareness and interaction among stakeholders within each society on key issues related to promoting philanthropy; and directions for further work on these issues.
Formation of national-level leadership bodies. We have supported the formation of ad hoc bodies of philanthropy and nonprofit sector leaders coming together to exchange knowledge and information for mutual learning. Examples of these are the Philippine Philanthropy Steering Committee and Filantropi Indonesia, which have both grown in membership and developed processes for the conduct of regular meetings and activities.
Support for national-level activities. We have also supported national-level initiatives in different societies, such as:
- Governance and organizational effectiveness; financial accounting systems review; capacity-building for boards and managers of nonprofit organizations
- Information and database building; funders’ directory building; surveys on corporate and individual giving
- Selected exploratory activities: research dissemination through translated work; studies on faith-based giving; development activities of non-profit organizations;
- the development of a diaspora philanthropy web portal.