Growth & Jobs | CVSS calls for overhaul of grant funding model at CSO Conference

Nancy Pinchas, executive director of the Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS) is calling for a fundamental overhaul of the traditional grant funding model, warning that Caribbean civil society organisations may not survive the next decade without more sustainable financing.

She issued the call during a panel discussion on “Investments for Impact” at the Caribbean CSO Conference. “Civil society in the Caribbean is facing an existential moment. The traditional grant model — short-term, activity-based and heavily restricted, was never designed to sustain institutions, build capacity, or support the long-term impact that our communities require. If we continue to rely on that model alone, many organisations simply will not survive the next decade,” she said.

Pinchas joined fellow panellists Richardo Aiken, community development specialist at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB); Razmi Farook, director-general of the Commonwealth Foundation; and Glenroy Murray, executive director of the Equality For All Foundation.

Aiken endorsed Pinchas’ comment and reiterated that grant funding must now be “positioned not simply as financial transfers, but as a catalyst for longterm transformation.” The community development specialist called on CSOs to respond decisively as they approach the next chapter by embracing a shift in business ethos that invests in, for example, a strong governance system and leadership, geared toward a more sustainable and formidable organisation. The shift: Igniting Civil Society’s Next Chapter.” is “a redesign of how we think about funding, partnership, accountability and sustainability”.

In her intervention, Farook, grounded the discussion in partnership, humility, and shared responsibility. Funding, she noted, is only one dimension of support. That “invisible currency” of passion and persistence must be recognised, respected, and never taken for granted.

Describing the conference theme as both “appropriate” and “extremely timely”, Pinchas pointed to tightening funding streams and the lingering effects of COVID-19 which led to the sector “running out of gas” rather than ‘igniting.”

The EU-funded data platform exemplifies investment in tools that help civil society demonstrate impact and advocate effectively.

Pinchas questioned the sustainability of traditional grant funding, the viability of activity-based grants and co-financing requirements for Caribbean CSOs, noting that while performance-based financing exists in contracts globally, it is rarely applied in the region.

She proposed exploring an NGO equivalent of public-private partnerships (PPPs) to enable civil society to deliver services more sustainably. She urges the Government of Jamaica to be more intentional in engaging the sector in service delivery. Such partnerships would require legal and regulatory reforms but could reduce reliance on short-term grants.

She acknowledged that implementing such a model would require legislative and regulatory adjustments, as PPPs are a formal procurement mechanism. However, she maintained that sustained advocacy in this direction is critical for the sector’s long-term survival.

Pinchas also highlighted practical investments made by CVSS to strengthen the sector’s infrastructure. The organisation has partnered to develop a data platform designed to capture and quantify the macro-level impact of civil society in Jamaica called the Civil Society Impact Platform.

The platform allows CSOs to present evidence-based data when lobbying for legislative reforms or procurement changes within government.

While acknowledging that such tools do not immediately generate revenue, Pinchas said they are essential to building the industry’s credibility and influence.

Murray echoed the sentiments of his colleagues that a shift is necessary. He highlighted his organisation’s achievements over the last decade, including strengthening financial systems and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) to measure impact, incorporating strategic plans and investing in income-generating assets.

Stephannie Coy, program manager Field Support Services Project Caribbean implementers of the Government of Canada’s Local Engagement and Action Fund expressed that she was proud to partner with CDB to host the conference. In addressing CSOs under the theme, she was forthright that CSOs must adapt to remain viable.

“To survive and thrive, CSOs must adapt to the changing environment by knowing their customer segments and applying greater strategic planning by adding a value proposition for both customer and client,” she said.

The conference was attended by 120 participants from 12 Caribbean countries and 600 online participants. The conference was planned following findings, which unearthed several limitations including that more than half of CSOs didn’t have a constitution.