Volume of Organizations' Funding

Outcome

number of target CSOs that increased the financial volume of their operations

This indicator assesses the number of civil society organisations (CSOs) that managed to increase the total volume of fundraised resources, an essential pre-condition for expanding the coverage and diversity of their operations. The indicator is suitable for interventions that build CSOs’ fundraising capacities. As this indicator is highly sensitive to external conditions (donor budgets, crises, inflation, exchange rates), it should only be used where fundraising opportunities are stable and accessible. The reporting should include a short qualitative justification linking observed increases to project support.

Determine the indicator's value by using the following methodology:

1) Define the reference period. Use a clearly defined period that reflects the duration of your project’s fundraising capacity-building support (e.g., the past 24 months). Apply the same period at baseline and endline to ensure comparability.

2) Define what counts as “funding source.” Examples may include donations, government funding, international donors, membership fees, earned income (e.g., services, sales), private sector contributions, sub-grants from other NGOs etc.

3) Collect data on funding sources and financial volume using context/appropriate and proportional methods. Through key informant interviews and review of relevant documentation (budgets, contracts, annual reports, grant agreements etc.), record the total financial volume of each of the target CSO’s operations in the assessed period.

Recognising that CSOs may face confidentiality constraints when sharing detailed financial information, data collection may rely on high-level summaries or self-reported data (such as aggregated figures or broad funding categories, including information already publicly available) where appropriate. This approach should balance data quality with proportionality and the need to maintain trust with participating CSOs.

4) Repeat the process at the end of your intervention.

5) Calculate the indicator’s value by counting the number of CSOs that managed to increase the financial volume of their operations.

The data can be disaggregated by CSO type (e.g., community-based organisation (CBO), network, NGO), size, or thematic area (e.g., governance, youth, environment); or geographic level (local, regional, national), as relevant and appropriate.

1) External factors and indicator suitability: Changes in CSOs’ funding volumes may be significantly influenced by external factors beyond the project’s control, such as shifts in donor priorities, funding cycles, budget cuts, economic shocks, or changes in competition for funding. Depending on the context and the likelihood of such influences, consider whether this indicator is appropriate for measuring the effects of the intervention and whether your intervention can realistically achieve the indicator's targets. Where the indicator is used, explicitly document relevant external factors to avoid attributing observed changes solely to project-supported capacity development. In your reporting, include a short qualitative justification linking observed increases to project support.

2) Economic context and data comparability: When interpreting funding volumes, take into account inflation and exchange rate fluctuations (particularly in contexts with high price volatility or local currency instability) as well as differences in the availability and quality of financial documentation across CSOs. Increases in nominal amounts may not reflect real growth. Where it is not feasible to adjust financial figures consistently for inflation or currency changes, briefly note significant price or exchange rate shifts to reduce the risk of misinterpretation.

3) Use of qualitative data for interpretation: Complement quantitative data with qualitative insights to better understand observed changes. Ask open-ended questions such as, “What do you think explains the changes in your organisation’s funding during this period?” Use these insights to interpret quantitative findings, clarify the project’s contribution, and distinguish between changes linked to project support (e.g. fundraising training, networking opportunities, improved financial management) and those driven primarily by external conditions.

4) Apply clear rules for handling multi-year grants, counting only the portion allocated or disbursed within the defined reference period rather than the full multi-year amount.