The CSO Sustainability Index (CSOSI) for Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia provides a comprehensive assessment of the capacity of civil society to serve as both a short-term partner in implementing development solutions and a long-term actor in ensuring development outcomes are sustained. The CSOSI empowers local civil society to collectively assess not only the environment in which they are operating, but also their own capacities to advocate, operate sustainably and communicate with citizens.This year’s Index reports on the state of CSO sectors in twenty-four countries in the region, from the Baltics in the north to the Caucasus in the south, and the Visegrad countries in the west to Russia, which stretches east to the Pacific Ocean. It addresses both advances and setbacks in seven key components or “dimensions” of the sustainability of the civil society sector: legal environment, organizational capacity, financial viability, advocacy, service provision, sectoral infrastructure, and public image. The Index is intended to be a useful source of information for local CSOs, governments, donors, academics, and others who want to better understand and monitor key aspects of sustainability in the CSO sector.

Part Three, “Connecting with Donors,” of NPI's Going the Distance focuses on various communication modes with donors, such as developing and delivering elevator speeches, writing capability and systems (capacity) statements and connecting with donors.

Toolkit aimed at strengthening writing within an organization; Tips, tools and examples for strengthening writing within your organization. Sections include:Notice Boards; Memos; Letters, Faxes, and Emails; Minutes and Reports

Basic tips and tools for effective writing

Civicus toolkit on handling media; Karen Hurt; Toolkit

Civicus toolkit on how organizations can produce their own media; Karen Hurt; Toolkit

Word Document

Nonprofit organizations are now continuously being challenged to be more strategic in their communications efforts. Communications activities must add up to more than a series of isolated events such as the dissemination of an occasional publication or press release. Being strategic requires that nonprofits be more deliberate, innovative, savvy, and less reactive in their communications practice. Nonprofits are encouraged to regard communications as essential to their overall success and integrate it throughout their organizations.Nonprofits need ways to better understand their current strategic communications performance and capacity, and to gain a realistic sense of what is possible in terms of developing their communications functions. Strategic communications audits are one tool that can help to meet this need.