For the past 15 years, philanthropic organizations’ informal and formal establishment is a growing trend.   Already developed charity associations, which give grants on a national level, form the simplest model of donor interconnectivity.

 

Before becoming an official organization supporting private and public, national and international grant-giving organizations, the Russian Donors Forum underwent several development stages.

 

1996- At this time, top western charity funds worked within the Russian Federation .   These donors discussed issues hindering grant distribution.   As problems multiplied, a “case-by-case” group began meeting frequently on a pre-formed schedule.   This group was composed of about 25 private-funders, international development agencies, and international/ bilateral organizations.

 

1998- This year the Donors Forum’s Managing Commission formed.   Representatives from five donor organizations willing entered into this commission and assumed responsibility for preparing and conducting meetings.

 

1999- At this time, the Donors Forum convened regularly on a quarterly schedule.   The Donors Forum conducted specialized meetings, which handled specific questions relating to participating-organizations’ interests (for instance, meetings for grant-managers).

 

2000- The first Russian donor, V. Potanin’s Charity Fund, began participating in the Donors Forum and soon entered into the Managing Commission .

 

2001- Participants took several steps toward the Donors Forum’s official formation.   They drafted and agreed upon the Mission Statement, the Code of Ethics , participation criteria, and membership levels for various donor organizations.      

 

January 29, 2002- The Donors Forum officially registered as a non-profit partnership.   The following participants formally entered as our “founding” donors: Ford Fund, John D and Katherine T. MacArthur Fund, Institute for Open Society, and V. Potanin’s Charity Fund.   Throughout 2002, the majority of organizations, which unofficially entered earlier, also became formal Donors Forum participants.

 

Forming over 10 years and beginning with only several organizations, the unofficial group known as the “Donors Forum” became an official non-profit partnership. Today, the Donors Forum includes over 40 participants, including representatives from Russian donor organizations.