On Going Activities

The community Foundation project. Read More>>

This is to share with you that SICP has been strengthening the civil society sector by building different funds and foundations, and by promoting giving and fundraising including community resource mobilization and asset development. In the process, we are helping the communities to organize themselves and encouraging them to contribute their time, money, knowledge, skills and other resources for their own development. We also help them in building their development organizations called local area development foundations (LADF) or community foundations (CFs).

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Sampradaan has been working on strengthening the civil society based on principles of social justice and philanthropy, empowerment of poor and capacity building of the CSOs.

SICP efforts to:

• Provide need-based support to existing public/community foundations.
• Develop and strengthen new funds and foundations and facilitate the growth of community philanthropy.
• Develop the capacities of community foundations on governance and management, programme development, fundraising and grant making
• Serve the need of social justice and public interest with due respect for diversity.
• Give serious attention to the needs of women and underprivileged groups.

The present activities also include:

• Documenting the social, organizational and institutional processes.
• Conducting feasibility studies of emergent community foundations (CF) and potential CF sites in India.
• Conducting regional convening for sharing and learning of best practices

Repositioning Sainik Sangh as a Community Foundation in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand 

Pauri Garhawal is close to the China border separated only by district Chamoli on the north. Therefore, it is of importance to national security of India. Unrest or subordination of local populace to narrow interests would lead to serious consequences in the region. This is not impossible given the tumultuous events in the neighboring Nepal, from where a large population has migrated to this district. The district is one of the highest districts in North India and can be regarded as a gateway to the higher ridges of Himalaya. The district sends a high number of men to the armed forces of India and it is not surprising to find retired army generals and sepoys living next to each other in this area. Nevertheless, the development administration in the district is in disarray while little opportunities of employment exist locally. The religious charities operating in the area for decades have little connection with the life of local people. These factors together have deprived people of development opportunities. There is no doubt that a well-defined community exists and also holds a key to self development as the district has unusually high rates of literacy in spite of severe poverty. Sainik Sangh, a professional association of former army personnel is repositioning itself to take up the role of a Community Foundation. They are also inducting civilian leadership in their organizational structure to allow a close connect between civil society and former army personnel. 

(For details please contact SICP)

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Strengthening Community Foundation in Kodagu District of Karnataka.

Kodagu district presents a challenge to preserve a zone that occupies a critical place in the ecology of river Kauveri . It also throws up the challenge of, preserving exotic genetic and cultural material in the form of the indigenous groups in the area. Fortunately at least one of the indigenous group is endowed with the wealth and networks that could help it and other indigenous people to rope back to a healthy and long life as a distinct culture. There is a strong section of local leaders who possess the mindset to commit their resources for local development and are in search of proper guidance on how to do that. The presence of many ethnic groups and contemporary communal politics has lead to a multi-foci society in Kodagu. Organizationally Kodagu Model Forest Trust, a community based organization, is gearing up to develop grant making and action programs on various problems troubling Kodagu district. Local donors are coming forward…. 

(For details please contact SICP)

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Feasibility Assessment study of Community Foundation based Interventions in Alwar district in Rajasthan State of India .

Alwar city is located at 160 km southwest of Delhi. Alwar is located in the triangle between Jaipur, Delhi and Agra. According to local sources, this triangle is a Tourist Triangle drawing the highest number of tourists in India in a year. This is important for Alwar district which has many notable historical temples, mosques, tombs, forts, ancient settlements within its boundaries. Alwar has the potential to emerge as a major tourist attraction of Rajasthan. Alwar district presents the prospect of establishing a strong community foundation based on the twin plank of reviving the distinct local culture and mobilizing resources of from local sources including farmers. The economic strength of the CF can be increased by drawing on the monetary and human support of non-resident Mewati population. The potential of the idea is evident in the support it has received from the WINGS managed Global Fund for development of community foundations. The Mewat CF has received approval for grant support for one year to undertake organizational development from the agency. The Foundation is already working on the ground…..

(For details please contact SICP)