Community-based organisations serve as the backbone of every society's development cycle, ensuring that government welfare initiatives and policies reach communities at the last mile. However, they frequently encounter bandwidth and resource constraints that limit their potential and influence.
Historically, the Indian development sector relied on large corporations, multinationals, and international grant-making bodies for funding, making it difficult for local social projects to access. The country's progressive policies, the expanding middle class, and CSR mandates have created new opportunities for organisations that serve the community.
Smile Foundation's Empowering Grassroots programme complements the Government of India's “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative. The programme aims to support community-based organisations in becoming locally sustainable by improving their efficiency and ability to tap into locally accessible resources.
Empowering Grassroots is an integrated initiative, with the twin goal of catalyzing successful and meaningful social development projects, by enabling genuine community based organisations.
Providing critical investment to support the sustainability of social initiatives and encouraging them to raise part funds from locally accessible resources
Increasing the capacity of CBO for better organisational planning and local fundraising through effective communication, monitoring and reporting systems
Critical investment was provided to support the sustainability of social initiatives and encourage them to raise part funds from locally accessible resources
Critical support for quality enhancement of grassroots social initiatives was extended to help the CBOs become more efficient, expand their reach and multiply the impact on ground
The trained organisation and partner organizations of Smile Foundation successfully conducted local action events to raise funds and mobilize support from local stakeholders
With an aim to keep the Empowering Grassroots trainers abreast of the changing environment, new trends and practices, refreshers and TOT sessions were held from time to time
Beyond Conventional Grant-making: Empowering Grassroots goes beyond traditional grant-making by building partner capacity throughout the project, rather than focusing solely on project goals.
Deeper Engagement & Investment: Standalone training sessions are one-time activities that provide no immediate benefits, and most training outcomes are difficult to quantify. Empowering Grassroots provides partners with the time and assistance they need to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice, as well as implement and sustain it.
Higher Social Return on Investment: Matching grants provide a higher social return on investment by doubling donors' contributions and enhancing ownership of the partner and community they serve.
Local Sustainability & Community Welfare: Empowering Grassroots improves long-term sustainability and viability of community partnerships and welfare services.
