Wanted: Fundraising skills

 

Balázs Gerencsér, 46, is Executive Director of the Non profit Information and Training Centre Foundation (NIOK) which has the mission of strengthening civil society in Hungary by providing capacity building services to non-governmental organisations and by building an environment supportive of the long-term future of NGOs.

Vita Europe caught up with him to hear his take on the economic crisis and its effects on Hungary’s third sector.  

What will the government spending cuts will have on the non profit sector in Hungary?

The previous government phased-in VAT for donations which meant that the number of donations started to decrease. It was a very difficult period for civil society organizations. Now we have a new government and we don’t know what its plans for the third sector are although it has made donations tax free again, which is good of course.

Is the sector preparing itself in case the government cuts its budgets?

The sector will try to engage and involve more volunteers. We also try to do some lobbying.

What challenges will the Hungarian non profit sector face in the next five years?

Civil society organizations will have to find alternative funding sources because the number of calls for proposal may well reduce. They need to be independent from State funds, and need more advocacy and donations from corporations and citizens.

Will anything positive come from the economic crisis?

It will help to develop new tools, methods and may increase activities in searching funds.