In the two years after the presidential elections in Belarus, dozens of organizations providing assistance to Belarusians with special needs were liquidated. We closed “Names” – a project that systematically helped organizations working with different target groups. The Ulej.by and Mola-Mola fundraising platforms were blocked, where private fundraising could take place. How has this affected the philanthropy system as a whole? Have Belarusians started donating less to those who cannot help themselves? Or vice versa – in the wave of solidarity, did they start to help others more actively? DW discussed this with Sphere representatives.

Fundraising opportunities have become even less

In June, Pavel (not his real name) started a fundraising campaign for the purchase of an electric wheelchair. In a few weeks, he managed to collect only 7% of the required amount – about 1,400 Belarusian rubles (about 540 euros). Whether that’s too much or too little, he still can’t judge: he’s never conducted a boot camp before.

Collections manager Daria Tsarik says: in her practice, she doesn’t see that Belarusians have become less or less likely to donate, and charity collections are slower. “All private collections I dealt with have been closed (the required amount has been collected. – Red.). Two years of turmoil haven’t affected people’s desire to help,” says Daria Tsarik.

But the possibilities for targeted assistance in the last two years have become significantly smaller. In the summer of 2020, the fundraising platforms Ulej.by and Mola-Mola, which were a convenient tool for private donations of medicines and medical equipment, were liquidated. “Now that opportunity to raise funds is very limited,” says Daria.

In 2021, the Names platform was closed, which, according to Daria Tsarik, was a huge loss for the charitable sector. “From a systemic assistance point of view, this was a professional and ethical project. The liquidation of the platform is a significant loss,” says Tsarik.

The law is primary, and with it in Belarus it is difficult

Daria Tsarik is convinced that in any sphere the law is primary and in Belarus it does not contribute to the development of the sphere of charity.

First, any organization that accepts donations from abroad – whether a dollar or ten thousand – is required to register the transfer with the Department of Humanitarian Affairs. This, on the one hand, gives the state control over all cash flows, and on the other, limits the possibilities of attracting free assistance.

Second, in many countries legislation is organized in such a way that it is profitable for companies to get involved in charity. For example, companies receive tax incentives and the State, thus, gets rid of part of the social burden. In Belarus, this is difficult, says Darya.

According to her, “the self-censorship of the charitable system in accepting donations from abroad is probably the main factor that will make it difficult to raise money in the right amount in the past and in the years to come.” Today, funds do not cover even 1% of the need for fees, Daria cites the data.

pandemic test

“It seems to me that the phenomenon of Belarusian charity lies precisely in the fact that, thanks to the difficult conditions in which it has existed all these years, the participants of the sphere have learned to survive”, says Daria Tsarik. The current conditions of scarcity of funds are not new to them.

According to his experience and observations, the difficulties in the field of charity began with the advent of the pandemic: “No one felt the impact of 2021, and even more so of 2022, precisely because at that time many were already in a state of stress: the profitability of partner companies dropped, they strategically reconsidered their capabilities and cut costs, including with free sponsorships. I know that some colleagues have lost a large number of companies they have helped. But there will always be another company. You just want to diversify your sources of income.”

Permanent partners remain

Chance Foundation has been operating in Belarus since 2008. It provides assistance to children with various illnesses and medical needs throughout Belarus and also has a representative office in Lithuania. In 14 years, the foundation has raised nearly $19 million and helped 120 children.

The events of the last two years have had a direct impact on the fund’s work. For example, this year, for the first time, Chance was without the sponsorship of Belgazprombank, which has been a major partner for 13 years.

“Of course, we hope that in the future we can cooperate with Belgazprombank, because this is a valuable experience for us. Now, Gazprom Transgaz Belarus has become our general partner, thanks to which we remain stable”, says Natalya Makhanko, director of the fund. “Chance”.

Natalia Makhanko, director of the Chance Foundation

In a month, the fund receives 10 to 25 requests for assistance. Usually, only one of them “Chance” has to raise – to cover the needs of the others, as a rule, it is obtained from the funds of ordinary citizens and partners – legal entities that provide free sponsorship. The number of these organizations has decreased significantly in the last two years. Natalya gives the following statistics: in 2020 they had 204 partners, in 2021 they became 170, now the number of legal entities supporting them has decreased to 90.

“But I’m glad that 76% of our partners stay with us for a long time. That is, having helped our wards once, they continue to do so in the future. Yes, now few new organizations come to us. The reasons are different. – from the consequences of the pandemic to the difficulties in business or even its liquidation. But large legal entities, individual entrepreneurs, who have been in the Belarusian market for a long time, still remain”, says Natalya.

Private donations fell by half

In 2022, donations from individuals dropped significantly, she continues. In 2020-2021, there were more than 33 thousand of them. In the first half of this year, the number of donations halved, although in monetary terms the amounts remained practically the same: “There is not half the money, but the trend, of course, is alarming. for the child.”

Project Names has helped groups ranging from the homeless to women victims of domestic violence

The last two years have a less obvious effect. In other words, because of the closure of the media, it became more difficult to spread the stories of the wards. “Now this is mainly possible through our own social networks and instant messengers. Unfortunately, it has become much more difficult for us to position ourselves in the field where we were previously very well heard”, says Natalya.

It does not venture to make predictions about how the field of charity will develop in the future, and it does not answer the question of what needs to be changed in this field to make the work easier and more efficient.

“Unfortunately, we are now in the dark: what’s next? What will happen to economic development, people’s income, business profitability? two, five. The main thing is to avoid a sharp drop”, says Natalya Makhanko.