Facilitating Financial Sustainability

Facilitating Financial Sustainability (FFS) is part of the USAID’s Local Works program, which promotes locally-owned and locally-led development by connecting local resources to local actors. FFS is a three-year activity (March 2017-March 2020) with the goal of identifying and improving the factors underlying CSO financial sustainability as a key element to empower local organizations and local populations to lead and influence development decision-making. This research from LINC, Peace Direct and Foundation Center details drivers of financial sustainability for local civil society organizations.

The research draws on interviews with 120 stakeholders in six countries and analysis of more than 16,000 grant records, and highlights specific strategies employed by funders and CSOs to improve financial sustainability in varied development contexts. Read our research papers, including:

  • A synthesis of the findings from across the interviews and grants analysis
  • A deep-dive analysis of the patterns of funding for financial sustainability
  • A deep-dive into the factors driving CSO financial sustainability
  • An Executive Summary of major findings of the research

Explore interactive network maps of grants that support CSO financial sustainability across six countries to discover patterns and trends in financial sustainability support.

Facilitating Financial Sustainability is currently setting up “Action Learning Groups” to put our research into practice by bringing together a group of CSO stakeholders to plan and implement activities to improve financial sustainability. Check out the map to see where we are working.

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