Giving Compass' Take:

• Sneha Philip and Ingrid Srinath discuss the role of philanthropy in rights-based advocacy in India in light of the FCRA Act.

• How can funders best advocate for rights? Where is the greatest need for change? 

• Learn about the importance of advocacy in strategic philanthropy. 

Sneha Philip: CSIP, along with research partners How India Lives and Lumen Consulting, spent many months studying government databases and speaking to a range of people to take a closer look at funding to nonprofits in India. They’ve looked at how some of the changes made to the FCRA Act have affected our sector; and, their report talks about how philanthropy can step in to fill the gaps that have been created by around 20,000 FCRA licenses being canceled.

Ingrid Srinath: One of the reasons why we have the situation we have is because civil society does not have a strong enough voice when it comes to either policy or public discourse. There are three broad things that Indian philanthropy can do to address nonprofits affected by the FCRA cancellations. One is to just support such organizations by creating a legal defense fund to challenge some of these rulings. The second is to extend support to organizations who have lost funding for no particular reason other than their funder being watch-listed. And thirdly, to look at creating some sort of bridge fund if you will, that will allow organizations who lose their FCRA to manage in the short run till they find alternatives.

Sneha Philip: The report also talks about what philanthropists can do over the next few years and in the long term, such as including rights-based and advocacy organizations in their grant portfolios. I for one, particularly like the suggestion to develop a media strategy so they can better inform the public of the value of civil society, possibly highlight important work, and emphasize why social organizations need to be supported.

Read the full transcript about philanthropy’s role in rights-based advocacy by Sneha Philip and Ingrid Srinath at India Development Review.