Outlooks for NGO network self-financing:  Identification and evaluation of self-financing methods for non-profit  environmental NGO electronic networks in South Eastern Europe

By Romana Glaser, June 2004. A thesis conducted in cooperation with the Balkan Bytes project and the Studiengang Informationsberufe, Faculty of Information and Knowledge Management (Austria). This university thesis was written to provide practical advice to South Eastern European networks to improve their financial sustainability and to research the state-of-the-art in this field.   Abstract  The purpose of this thesis is to outline and evaluate self-financing models for environmental NGO electronic networks in South Eastern Europe. It addresses issues related to NGO financing in general, and then takes a more specific look at diversifying financial sources and self-financing as an alternative to traditional donor funding.  The methodology is based on the following strategy:  First, a review of current literature on NGO donor funding and self-financing is undertaken.  Then, notes, personal contacts and insights into the topic are gathered at a workshop on mission-driven business plan writing for South Eastern European NGO networks. (See article.) Finally, semi-structured qualitative interviews amongst international experts and one representative of each online network in SEE are conducted.  On the basis of the research, seven self-financing methods for NGO electronic networks in South Eastern Europe are identified and evaluated. Three good practices of international NGO electronic networks describe different self-financing strategies.  One main outcome of the analysis is that indirect donor support is seen as the best starting point for self-financing initiatives for South Eastern European networks. It is found, that these networks already possess the potential and knowledge, which might be used to establish new revenue streams. Even though donor-funding is likely to remain their main source of income in the coming years, the findings of the thesis and good practices demonstrate that online networks in South Eastern Europe may greatly benefit from a gradual switch to a diversified self-financing model. You can download the full-text document as Adobe PDF file (69 pages, 540-KByte)

Download the full-text thesis (69 pages, 540-KByte PDF file) Faculty of Information and Knowledge Management (auf Deutsch)