Engaging members in policy work.ppt

7/27/2019 Engaging members in policy work.ppt

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Association ofFoundations

Association of Foundations (AF)

Since 1972

144 current members

Types of foundations: funding (grantmaking)

and operating; memorial, corporate, NGOs,social development agencies

Programs: education and training, arts andculture, environment, health and nutrition,livelihood and enterprise development,environment and sustainable development

Thrusts: networking, advocacy, informationcenter, capacity building

Building Foundations, Building a Better Future


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StructureGeneral Assembly

meets annually

Board of Trustees

12 members elected at large

3 members elected by islandregions

- Luzon, Visayas, MindanaoManagement

Executive Director, ProgramOfficer, Administrative/Finance

Asst., Clerk



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Advocacy Issues AF as a member of CODE-NGO Need for immediate decisions on urgent pressstatements/releases General Assembly adopted a resolution that theBoard decides on behalf of the entire AFnetwork President Estrada impeachment Hyatt 10 Cabinet resignation Board clear majority with regional voice



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Policy Concerns Policies which concern the NGOs andFoundations in general Set-up a Board committee, include othernetworks Example: Comprehensive Tax Reform Law 1997which led to the creation of the Philippine

Council for NGO Certification (PCNC) 1999 Example: SEC guidelines on foundations



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PCNC Experience Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) was amendingthe Tax Law in 1997 BIR wanted to delete the tax incentives fordonations to not-for-profit organizations Reason: Inadequate systems for monitoring theNGOs and Foundations Challenge: NGO sector to police their ownranks



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PCNC Experience Six networks, AF included, then put up thePCNC. Partnership among the Department of Finance,Bureau of Internal Revenue BIR sits as ex-officio member of the Board Mandate: certify foundations as tax donee

institutions Principles: good governance, transparency andaccountability



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SEC Experience New guidelines were set up by Securities andExchange Commission regulating Foundations No consultations were made with the NGO

sector New guidelines increased the start-up fund(from $ 2k to $ 20k) for newly-establishedfoundations For existing foundations, additional reportorialrequirements such as declaration of all sourcesof funds and names of beneficiaries



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SEC Experience NGOs find the amount too steep NGOs find the requirements too cumbersome Patriot Act and Terrorism Issue AF set up its own committee and expanded thisto include representatives from various NGOsand NGO networks AF took the lead in negotiations with SEC



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Japan ODA Experience AF was tapped to convene the initial meeting ofa Japanese ODA Task Force during their visit AF invited a number of representatives fromdifferent NGOs Continuing discussions with the Japaneseofficials on coming up with an NGO FundingMechanism



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Benefits Credibility and Legitimacy of organization /network Recognized key player in the NGO sector forkey consultations Primarily, a service to the members specificallyand the non-profit sector in general



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Risks / Challenges Questions within the membership choice ofissues Cooptation - guise of consultation Time and resources



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Learnings Seize the opportunity take the lead Involve others (strength in numbers) themembers of the association and other partners Choose the proper emissaries (keypersonalities in the membership and in theBoard) Maintain and sustain the relationship

balancing act Be patient and even understanding Learn to speak and understand their language



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Thank You VeryMuch!



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Engaging Members

in Policy Work

Oman Jiao

Association of Foundations (AF)


Engaging members in policy work.ppt

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