{"id":6809,"date":"2023-10-24T16:37:05","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T19:37:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redecomua.org.br\/?p=6809"},"modified":"2023-10-26T11:09:27","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T14:09:27","slug":"o-que-e-essa-tal-filantropia-comunitaria-nas-consultorias-do-icom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-wyy8bhlsif5v8gukfr0yhxue.studio.tikovolpe.com.br\/en\/o-que-e-essa-tal-filantropia-comunitaria-nas-consultorias-do-icom\/","title":{"rendered":"What is this community philanthropy in ICOM consultancies?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Photo: Freepik<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Mariana de Assis<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uncovering factors involved in the development and promotion of community philanthropy, in line with my research, allowed me to discover important evidence that is worth sharing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The systematization of the experience of strengthening community-based organizations through the consultancy services of the Grande Florian\u00f3polis Community Institute (ICOM) brings, as a fundamental starting point, that consultancy is a strategy of community philanthropy. This means that, based on practice and experience, there is a strategic external action<\/strong> which facilitates the search for specific solutions to the challenges of local communities, based on the recognition of voices and repertoires belonging to them\u00b9. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t worry, as you read the question in the title of this article, the question in the title of this article will make perfect sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ICOM consultancies are a free service that provides access to guidance, tools and content that contribute to strengthening community-based groups and organizations in Greater Florian\u00f3polis. These consultancies originated in the organization in 2007, in the first institutional development project called Fortalecer\u00b2, integrating one of the specific objectives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cOffer personalized advice to participating NGOs, in order to qualify their management, strengthen their institutional identity and support them in communication and in the construction of partnerships and strategic alliances\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Since then, 2,834 initiatives have been supported, totaling more than 4 thousand hours of training.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The topics covered in the consultancies, such as: support in the creation and formalization of a social initiative; Understanding Brazilian legislation on organized civil society, mobilization of resources and accounting routines, are based on ICOM's institutional development methodology, which analyzes internal and external dimensions, strengthening the mission of groups and organizations and their strategic positioning in society. This indicates that what is sought to be developed and improved is not only the management dimension of organizations (capabilities, structures, management, procedures, instruments), but also their sociopolitical dimension (identity, social base, organizational culture, communication, protagonism in the space audience, alliances and interaction patterns, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here and access<\/a>  the Consultancy Institutional Development Method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This service is offered by the ICOM team, which, by developing within the organization and following consultancies, internalizes capabilities to serve organizations and groups. Partnerships are also signed with institutions that specialize in certain topics, and are made available in the consultancy list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Services take place online or in person, at the ICOM headquarters or at the headquarters of the requesting organization, and are carried out based on spontaneous demand and in order of request through an online form. The form requests information about the initiative, location, cause, number of beneficiaries, number of members that comprise it and main questions that require help from ICOM. Initiatives that, for some reason, are unable to access the online form are also accepted by other means (telephone, WhatsApp), with data collection being left for the moment of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consultancy hours vary between one and two hours \u2013 depending on the subject and pre-established agreements \u2013 and occur once a week. Consultancies can be specific, around a specific subject, or ongoing, for those cases in which the organization needs more assistance and monitoring of its work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one case, I advised an organization that reached us via email. Our conversation was in person, held at ICOM headquarters, starting with a good cup of coffee and a presentation of our actions. The manager of this organization informed us that she came to us following a recommendation from the Municipal Social Assistance Council (CMAS), which advised her to seek us out for support in the construction of the action plan and subsequent renewal of registration with the respective council. In the conversation, we explained the step by step of how the Council works, its importance and then we analyze the document, punctuating and reflecting on important actions contained in it. Together, we went through the form item by item to answer questions. As a referral, we organize a follow-up schedule for filling out the form and monitoring it until it is sent to the respective Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

''The technical team was very happy with the result achieved with regard to maintaining the CMAS registration. This result was thanks to the advice provided\u201d \u2013 Statement on the consultancy evaluation form, 2022.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

When an organization seeks us out, a strong bond of trust is established\u00b3 \u2013 a fundamental characteristic of community philanthropy \u2013 by sharing its institutional and community challenges. And why is this word so important? Well, with a quick Google search, you can see that trust comes from confide<\/em>, which means faith, that is, faith in something or someone, even without yet seeing the results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this case, I draw attention to the trust that comes from organizations and groups in relation to advisory processes. Or do you think it's only the person who donates, who technically supports, who should trust? Community philanthropy is about recognizing the power of communities, and this means that, apparently, these communities and their actors are not recognized for their social intelligence by their supporters. So I dare to say that, more than recognizing the power and assets of the community, we need to make organizations and groups trust us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this work, ICOM guides, offers details, dealing with current reality and serving as a bridge that strengthens the social fabric of the territory. Shein (2008) presents this type of consultancy as \u201cdoctor-patient\u201d. For the author, \u201cin this model, the client assumes that the consultant works according to professional standards, that the sale is made responsibly, based on reliable data that the consultancy will really help to solve the problem\u201d. (SHEIN, 2008, p.32). From the author's perspective, in the \u201cdoctor-patient\u201d consultancy approach, the organization or group informs their problems, an x-ray is performed (diagnosis) and then recommended methods for solution (prognosis).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In another experience, I advised a collective that was interested in formalizing as an association to have access to more resources. The people who make up it discovered ICOM's consultancy service at an event, and soon made an appointment online. When welcoming and introducing myself, I gave the floor to the group that was made up of five people. They were activists and shared the motivations behind their origins and work with the cause of racial equity. For three years they had been supporting young people with dance, theater and music workshops in Santa Catarina. For them, that was a very special moment, as they identified with me \u2013 a black woman \u2013 and received free support, adding that \u201cthey had no idea that an organization like ICOM existed\u201d. At the time of the service, I followed a learning trail with the group that made them reflect on their performance and answer questions about current legislation, some concepts, work dynamics and challenges of formalization. The interactions and feelings triggered at the time of the consultancy allowed us to perceive things not seen before in the collective, which, in order to preserve its own values and characteristics, chooses not to follow the structure and operating logic of an organization with a CNPJ. In fact, members made very pertinent criticisms regarding the low support for groups and collectives that work on sensitive issues and are important actors in guaranteeing rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

''ICOM's service has a therapeutic effect. I always leave the conversation renewed, excited and with clarity of actions to be taken. It's a slow process, but it immediately invigorates and encourages. Consulting takes us out of the bubble of thoughts that isolates us. Looking from the outside in is essential, but we are not always able to do so. The consultancy has helped us a lot in this process\u201d, anonymous statement on the consultancy\u2019s evaluation form, 2022.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In the example above, it is possible to see another approach model, which according to Schein (2008) is called process consultancy. <\/em>In this model, it will be up to the group or organization to \u201clearn to see the problem for themselves by sharing the diagnosis process and being actively involved in generating a solution\u201d (SCHEIN, 2008, p. 37). The function of this type of model is to make the organization or group learn to learn, building a relationship and an understanding of help to always remain proactive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faced with yet another case, I reflected on another characteristic of community philanthropy: relationships\u00b3, the importance of which is felt through the creation of bonds. A relationship is an atmosphere that connects people emotionally, it is what makes sense, it is a two-way street that strengthens over time. It has to do with being present, after all, there is no way to become intimate with organizations and groups and consequently their communities if we have no contact or are not interested in knowing more about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had the privilege of meeting the founders and current directors of a civil society organization that was \u201cbeing born\u201d. In the online conversation, they told us that they came to ICOM through colleagues who work in the social area. Excited, they recounted the beginning of the organization's history, which began with the donation of toys and specific events to children from a vulnerable community in Florian\u00f3polis. They saw in those specific and significant moments that they could do more for them, structuring and diversifying their actions, as well as formalizing themselves. Therefore, their interest in consulting was to understand how financial management works, as they were interested in strengthening their credibility and accessing tax benefits. I was not alone, I immediately called on ICOM's administrative-financial coordinator to carry out another mission. Together, we understood the financial structure and routines and, based on the organization's reality and internal capacity, we indicated good practices for greater transparency and efficiency in management. When the demands of this organization exceeded ICOM's internal competencies, we referred the organization to one of our technical partners, the Regional Accounting Council of Santa Catarina, which has a program made up of volunteer accountants who answer specific accounting questions, for example: balance sheets, financial statements, cash flow, asset valuation and the like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By telling you another story, I intend to point out other characteristics of community philanthropy, such as articulation, facilitation and honesty\u00b3, which can be represented as the bringing together of the spheres of society, the narrowing of margins, care for the living dynamics, human and diverse relationships between people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As guardian of ICOM's Relationship with Organized Civil Society, I am always involved with notices that financially support grassroots organizations and groups. The apex of this practice is that this support allows for combined action with consultancies, composing a strategic and effective methodology that truly offers means of social transformation. There is a striking case of a non-formalized group operating in one of the most symbolic territories in the city that, upon receiving the news that it had been awarded the amount of R$ 20 thousand to freely support its mission, doubted whether or not it really wanted the donation. . The group had already had problems related to distrust and accountability, burdening rather than strengthening its struggle and volunteer work that it has carried out for years in its community. As time passed and bonds were created, I heard that it was difficult to create a disbursement plan based on dreams that people really want and not with items limited to actions and small deliveries. They also said that for the first time, they understood the real meaning of accountability, which is to demonstrate the impact and potential that that donation caused. It is emblematic and is becoming an urgent topic in philanthropy events: the urgency of more accessible, autonomous and inclusive financing routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cBeing able to count on technical support gave us greater security to manage resources and actions in the best way, respecting transparency, our plans and actions, as well as building our purpose together with the community\u201d, Testimony Group financially supported by ICOM , 2022.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

"It was amazing. We received a lot of support, attention, we were respected and guided. An excellent relationship of real interest in what we could offer, execute, articulate. The consultant provided me with advice, was always available and open. Including always positioning herself as a facilitator.\u201d Statement Group financially supported by ICOM, 2022.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThe group highlights and appreciates the trust in transparency and delivery. The consultant's guidance was fundamental for the maturation of the group and for the development of new\/other more strategic processes. The establishment of a humanizing relationship, based on trust; the development of the group as an institution; established networks. Mainly, the importance and difference of raising resources in monetary form \u2013 and the effects of this in practice. Prior to the notice, there was fear in working with this type of resource\u201d, Statement Group financially supported by ICOM, 2022.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

My analysis would not be complete without highlighting the importance of the governance of financial resources, as another characteristic of community philanthropy. Hopstein (2018) corroborates this view stating that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Direct support for civil society organizations and grassroots movements clearly supports and values the empowerment of the most vulnerable groups in our society, giving them the conditions to explain and directly confront the power relations that negatively affect them. Promoting and supporting civil society organizations and social movements also strengthens a dialogue without intermediaries, less unequal and without the supervision of private or state organizations.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

If community philanthropy can be defined as a <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cform and a force aimed at developing local resources, talents, capabilities and confidence\u201d (HOGDSON AND POND, 2018), <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I may be able to name ICOM consultancies as one of these forms and forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When reporting my experiences and concepts, I see consultancies as a waterfall. All waterfall falls have an origin, a central point, but the way in which the fall occurs will be different for each admirer of this waterfall. It is never the same as another, sometimes it is fuller, sometimes shallower, depending on external factors. It provides us with a connection with our inner being. Well, it's not for nothing that they say that \u201ca waterfall bath is capable of energizing body and soul\u201d. And that's what we do, we facilitate how this fall will reach each person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

1 Community philanthropy: a strategy for acting with territories, not for them. Available in<https:\/\/gife.org.br\/filantropia-comunitaria-uma-estrategia-de-atuacao-com-os-territorios-nao-para-eles\/<\/a>>. Accessed on May 1, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2 ICOM \u2013 Greater Florian\u00f3polis Community Institute. Final Report Strengthen. Document<\/p>\n\n\n\n

internal. Use authorized by the organization. 2007.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 Don. Dana RH What is community philanthropy? \u2014 A guide to understanding and implementing community philanthropy. South Africa, 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOPSTEIN, Graciela. Social justice philanthropy, civil society and social movements in Brazil. 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ICOM \u2013 Greater Florian\u00f3polis Community Institute. Annual Activity Report. Florian\u00f3polis, 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SCHEIN, Edgar H. Principles of Process Consulting: to build relationships that transform. Translated by Antonio Luiz de Paula e Silva. S\u00e3o Paulo:Peir\u00f3polis: Instituto Fonte para Desenvolvimento Social, 2008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excerpt taken from the Magazine Expanding and strengthening community philanthropy in Brazil \/ Rede de <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philanthropy for Social Justice \u2013 Rio de Janeiro: Ape'Ku, Selo Doar para Transformar, 2021. 2nd edition apud \u201cHow Community Philanthropy Shifts the Power\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Mariana de Assis is an administrator at UFSC and a Law Student at this same University. More than ten years of professional experience in the public and private sectors, with a strong presence in the Field of Organized Civil Society. She is currently Project Coordinator at ICOM \u2013 Greater Florian\u00f3polis Community Institute and Intern at the Judiciary of Santa Catarina \u2013 1 Civil Court of the District of Florian\u00f3polis. Volunteers as a Law Advisor for the Municipal Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (2022-2025) and Fiscal Advisor for Politize.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Uncovering factors involved in the development and promotion of community philanthropy, in line with my research, allowed me to discover important evidence that is worth sharing.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6887,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[80,124,35,147],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-programa-saberes","category-filantropia-comunitaria","category-icom","category-transforma-recomenda"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress-wyy8bhlsif5v8gukfr0yhxue.studio.tikovolpe.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6809","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress-wyy8bhlsif5v8gukfr0yhxue.studio.tikovolpe.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress-wyy8bhlsif5v8gukfr0yhxue.studio.tikovolpe.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress-wyy8bhlsif5v8gukfr0yhxue.studio.tikovolpe.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress-wyy8bhlsif5v8gukfr0yhxue.studio.tikovolpe.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6809"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress-wyy8bhlsif5v8gukfr0yhxue.studio.tikovolpe.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6809\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress-wyy8bhlsif5v8gukfr0yhxue.studio.tikovolpe.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress-wyy8bhlsif5v8gukfr0yhxue.studio.tikovolpe.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress-wyy8bhlsif5v8gukfr0yhxue.studio.tikovolpe.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress-wyy8bhlsif5v8gukfr0yhxue.studio.tikovolpe.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}