About BAPF

The programs in the Baltic countries are implemented by the Open Estonia Foundation, the Soros Foundation Latvia and the Open Society Foundation – Lithuania. Each of these foundations has established a Baltic-American Partnership (BAP) program which is guided by a local experts council. The local experts councils have developed country priorities related to BAPF’s program objectives, and have identified activities to achieve the program objectives. The BAP Programs in turn provide grants to local NGOs. In March of 1999 the BAPF Board of Directors approved the first round of proposals submitted by each of the foundations. Funding for the programs began in May of 1999.

BAPF 2006 Annual Report (980K) NEW!

External Assessment of the Effectiveness of BAPF and BAPPs (204K)

BAPF Program Summary and Exit Strategy (82K)

Mission Statement

The Baltic-American Partnership Fund (BAPF) supports the continued development of democratic institutions and market economies in the Baltic countries by enhancing the civic engagement of the populations, and by increasing the capability of and opportunities for citizens to participate effectively in political and economic decision-making. Through its local partners, the BAPF provides grants to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of local NGOs and to improve the environment in which NGOs operate. The BAPF’s priority objectives are to develop 1) a clear, supportive legal and regulatory framework for NGOs, 2) a critical mass of effective NGOs, 3) diverse sources of long-term sustainable financing and 4) NGOs that demonstrate effective public policy advocacy.

When BAPF began its grantmaking programs in 1998, the challenges facing those involved in civil society development - particularly, the non-profit sector - were considerable. These challenges included: weak or mixed legal frameworks; low civic participation and lack of trust in public institutions; few or no mechanisms for civic engagement and interaction among individuals, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the private sector, and the state; underdeveloped management, advocacy, coalition-building and technical skills among NGOs; and, limited sources of funding and experience with organized philanthropy.

In the five years since then, much has changed. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have become full-fledged members of the European Union and joined NATO, achievements which reflect their successful transition to democratic systems and free market economies. During this period, the role and capacity of civil society in all three Baltic countries have grown considerably. Under the leadership of a number of BAPF's grantees, the legislative framework for non-profit sector work and charitable giving has undergone significant improvements and innovations in all three countries. There is a growing number of NGOs at the national and local level in each country that have acquired advocacy skills and policy-making expertise, and are participating actively in public debate and dialogue on critical social and economic issues. The willingness of individuals to take part in civic life has increased, and government has demonstrated more understanding of and openness to the notion of individuals and NGOs as stakeholders, constituents and partners in decision-making processes. The practice of volunteering time and financial resources is slowly taking hold among the inhabitants of all three countries, although it is constrained by the still very difficult economic conditions in which the majority of the Baltic populations live.

While much progress has been made in strengthening civil society, significant challenges remain - challenges which BAPF will seek to address in the remaining five years of its lifespan. They include the following:

Fostering a Long-Term Perspective: Many NGOs are not yet paying sufficient attention to long-term strategic and financial planning, and constituency building. They find themselves caught in a vicious circle - time-limited, project-based supports hampers their ability to engage in long-term planning, but without doing so, they are unable to move beyond the short-term funding paradigm. It is in this context that BAPF has provided, and will continue to provide institutional support and technical assistance to individual NGOs that have shown a willingness and capacity for long-term development.

Further Development of Advocacy Capacity: Despite gains made in this area in recent years, much remains to be done to strengthen the advocacy capacity of the NGO community, and open up access to policymaking channels. Government does not yet consistently recognize the importance of including individuals, NGOs, and civic groups in decision making processes, particularly when the issue at hand is a controversial or high-profile one. It is also clear that advocacy NGOs face great challenges in identifying local funding sources for their work in the future, a key issue that BAPF is exploring further.

Building a New Level of Public Awareness: Many of the programs supported by BAPF have increased the visibility and credibility of the NGO sector among the general public, government, and private sector, and enhanced overall understanding of civil society issues. However, NGOs are not yet their own best "promoters," and can do more to take advantage of the steadily improving legislative environment that enables their activities. Through its grantmaking, BAPF has and will continue to encourage NGOs to focus greater attention on public outreach, fundraising, accountability, and transparency. We believe that public awareness of and support for the third sector in the Baltics has the potential to grow considerably.

Catalyzing Local Philanthropy: Some promising signs have emerged in the ongoing effort to stimulate and diversify indigenous funding sources for the non-profit sector. With support from BAPF, there is a fledgling community-based philanthropy movement underway in all three countries. Corporate giving is on the increase, and efforts are being undertaken to develop more transparent and independent mechanisms for channeling government support to NGOs. Nevertheless, it will be some time before local funding sources acquire "critical mass" in terms of providing significant support for third sector initiatives. BAPF considers this as one of the most critical issues to address in its programming in the final five years.