1.Name of Project
The Triple S Initiative-Sustainability for the Social Sector

2. What will it do?
It’s a unique program focused on NGO capacity building in financial sustainability issues. It will be based on 4 basic pillars of financial sustainability for NGOs:
a. Strategic financial planning
b. Diversification of funding sources
c. A good administrative and accounting system
d. The capacity to generate non restricted income (own income)

3. Who/What will it benefit?
It is very common for many NGOS in the region to depend on one or two donors for their program execution. Unfortunately, this is not feasible in the long run, since donors, particularly bilateral donors, or even Foundations, tend to limit their funding according to many elements, including political stability in each country, transparency issues, etc. A good example is Guatemala where big donors like the Dutch government are diminishing their support to NGOS. Another example is Nicaragua, where due to rampant corruption, the Nordic donor agencies are moving their program to neighbouring countries.

By establishing this unique program in the Central American region, dozens of NGOs in each country will have a much stronger impact and will have a much higher probability of meeting their missions statements by expanding their views and knowledge in regards to financial sustainability.

4. How will it be implemented?
The program will build on SalvaNATURA’s successful fund-raising experience, particularly with non-restricted funds, which has been compiled in part, in a book that I had the opportunity to write and publish in 2004, among many other key fund-raising and development materials.

In a nutshell, it will be implemented through a series of 2 day workshops targeting NGOs from diverse backgrounds, like democracy, human rights, health, education and environment focused NGOs. The workshop will train the participants on the following subjects: grant writing (to a lesser extent) and access of multilateral, bilateral and national funds, membership development, private sector engagement, foundations, cause related marketing, special events, product merchandising, minimum development staffing needs, communications and marketing plans, capital campaigns and the creation of endowment funds/cash reserves.

The ultimate goal will be to sit down with the trainees, post workshop, and develop guidelines for an ad-hoc financial sustainability plan for each particular NGO. The participants will be preferably board chairs, executive directors and development officers, when applicable. 

5. What is my role?
Basically, besides giving the two day workshops,  to raise the funds that can cover the cost of 30 participants per workshop (2 pax per NGO). It is estimated that the cost per person oscillates between $300 and $350. This includes my travel, food and lodging costs in the region, plus the space to host the workshop among other potential costs.

I have decided to focus on Guatemala first, due to the strong NGO presence there. Visits have been made to potential funders like the Soros Foundation, CIDA (Canada) and IBIS Denmark, all with offices in Guatemala City. Private sector donors will also be targeted in the near future.

For now, two workshops have been pledged for late August-early September and will target 60 people from 15 different NGOs and 30 Ford foundation Guatemalan post graduate fellows. 

6. How will it be measured?
To begin with, by the number of workshops and trainees throughout the region, but also through a bit of follow-up by monitoring the execution of the financial sustainability plans of a few indicator or key NGOs. 

7. Does it meet the criteria for projects laid out in the project descriptor?
Definitely!

8. Why is it worthy of CALI?
It is a unique project in the sense that it can contribute to the strengthening of key civil society organizations all over Central America, and why not, perhaps even South America!!. There is no other program in the region similar to it and it can certainly make a difference in many NGOs that have not had the opportunity to establish solid development and financial sustainability programs.