Financial sustainability of social service NGOs in Belize

Abstract

Belizean social service NGOs are a critical segment of society filling gaps in services to the most vulnerable and needy populations. In the current decade there has been a noticeable decline in the formation of new NGOs and in the closure of some service providers as funding agencies shift priorities and withdraw from the country. Research using primary and secondary sources, survey, and case studiess how that the main commonality between all the social service agencies—both defunct and operational—is their struggle for financing, with a particular emphasis on funding core costs. The findings also reveal that larger NGOs, which charge for services, are better able to withstand funding shocks by making organizational changes. However, improved management of resources, strategic and financial planning, along with diversifying income can help to alleviate the sustainability problems faced by all sizes of social service NGOs.