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Charity Insights:

the Philippines

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Perceptions on overall sector health.
The biggest challenges for the sector.
Dealing with demand.
Sources of income.
Types of income.
How funders can empower charitable organisations.
How leaders spend their time.
Engagement challenges.
Civil society collaboration.
Civil society network.
Impact.
How much the public trusts charities.
Perceptions of the Government.
VISIT THE CAF WEBSITE

Charity Insights:

Philippines

You are currently viewing Charity Insights, which explores the landscape from the perspective of social purpose organisations in this country.

Use the toggle below to switch to Donor Insights and view how and why individuals give.

You are viewing:
Donor Insights
Charity Insights

Insights on charity data from

It is no surprise that financial sustainability remains the number one challenge for charities, both in the Philippines and globally. At the same time, charities are facing increasing demand for services. Despite these pressures, the Philippine charity sector considers itself fairly healthy and able to meet growing needs. This resilience may be attributed, in part, to a sector that is well-networked and generally collaborative.

How then can we further elevate the charity sector in the country? We see three key areas to build on:

  • People: In 2025, many charities hired additional staff to meet increasing demand. As the sector grows its workforce, investing in the upskilling of staff and volunteers will be essential to building stronger, more effective organisations.
  • Purpose: Charities have clear missions, but there is room to strengthen how we capture and communicate our impact. Doing so will build greater trust and support for the sector.
  • Partners: Organisations already collaborate fairly well. The next step is to build more strategic, sustained partnerships that go beyond one-off projects.

At the Association of Foundations, we believe in the saying 'lakas ng isa, lakas ng lahat' (the strength of one is the strength of all). When each organisation brings its own strengths to the table, we can collectively drive greater impact for Filipino communities.

Oman Jiao
Executive Director
Association of Foundations (AF)

Data from

Philippines

1

Perceptions on overall sector health.

Overall, would you say the charity sector in your country is…

Very healthy
Fairly healthy
Fairly unhealthy
Very unhealthy
Don’t know
Base: All charities answering =xx

2

The biggest challenges for the sector.

Which challenges are most pressing for your organisation? (select the top 3):

Financially and operationally fit

This aspect, which is about being financially and operationally fit with sufficient income from different sources, is the most challenging for charities around the world.

XX%
Financial sustainability
XX%
Increased competition for funding
XX%
Increasing costs
XX%
The balance of restricted and unrestricted funding
XX%
Meeting demand for services
XX%
Making the most of technology

Well networked

Being well connected and able to get support by working in partnership with others.

External awareness

Awareness of the political, economic, local and national context. Scanning the horizon for threats and opportunities.

XX%
Raising awareness of our charity
XX%
Government intervention
XX%
Persuading people that we can be trusted

People and culture

Having the right employees and prioritising their development and wellbeing, supported by effective leadership.

XX%
Hiring or maintaining a strong team
XX%
Securing and maintaining volunteer engagement

Evidencing impact

The ability to identify and communicate the needs being met and the impact this is having.

XX%
Measuring and demonstrating our impact
XX%
Making an impact

Purpose

Understanding what the organisational purpose is — and just as importantly, what it is not.

XX%
Communicating our mission
XX%
Clarifying our mission
Base: All charities answering = XX

3

Dealing with demand.

Increase(d) a lot
Increase(d) a little
Remain(ed) the same
Decrease(d) a little
Decrease(d) a lot
Don't know
Base: All charities answering =xx

How did organisations find coping with this increased demand over the last 12 months?

Difficult
Easy
Base: Organisations who experienced increased demand = XX

Which, if any, of these actions have you had to take in order to cope with increasing demand?

Philippines
Global average
Base: Organisations who experienced increased demand = XX

4

Sources of income.

The proportion of charities that receive each type of funding:

Base: All charities answering =xx

If you received no more donations or funding from today, how long could you continue operating using only your reserves, any investments or earned income?

Have to stop operations immediately
Less than one month
1–3 months
4–6 months
7–12 months
Over a year
Survive indefinitely as don't rely on donations / funding
Don’t know
Base: Organisations who experienced increased demand = XX

5

Types of income.

How much of your funding is given as ‘restricted’ funds?

Restricted
Unrestricted
Base: All charities answering =xx

Geographically, where does your funding come from?

Inside our country
Other countries
Base: All charities answering = XX

6

How funders can empower charitable organisations.

Aside from giving more money, how could funders empower organisations like yours to do more good?

Philippines
Global average
Base: All charities answering = XX

Which of the following statements, if any, do you feel apply to funders?

Philippines
Global average
Base: All charities answering = XX

7

How leaders spend their time.

Roughly speaking, how much time do you spend on each of the following?

Working on more practical tasks that keep us running day-to-day
Working on more strategic things that are for the longer-term
Base: All Chief Executives or equivalent job title = XX

8

Engagement challenges.

Which of the following would you like to do a better job of engaging ?(select up to two)

Philippines
Global average
Base: All charities answering = XX

9

Civil society collaboration.

How well does civil society in your country collaborate together for the greater good?

Not at all well
Not very well
Fairly well
Very well
Base: All charities answering = XX

10

Civil society network.

What are the barriers to developing your civil society network further?

Philippines
Global average
Base: All organisations who don’t already have a ‘very strong’ network = XX

11

Impact.

How effectively do you do the following?

Not at all
Not very
Somewhat
Fairly
Very
Base: All charities answering = XX

Does your organisation use a formal framework or strategy for capturing and measuring impact?

No, we do not use one and have no plans to do so
Not yet, but one is in development
Yes, we currently use one
Don't know
Base: All charities answering = XX

12

How charities perceive public trust.

How trustworthy do you think the people of your country find the following types of organisations?

Local / regional charities
National charities
International charities
Not at all trustworthy Very trustworthy
Not at all trustworthy Very trustworthy
Public's average level of trust
Charity's average perception of public trust
Not at all trustworthy Very trustworthy
Base: All donors and charities answering = XX

13

Perceptions of the Government.

Overall, do you think the Government is a positive or negative influence on the charitable sector?

They don't do anything either way
Very negative
Negative
Mixed - they do some good things and some bad things
Positive
Very positive
I don't know what they do, so can't say
Base: All charities answering = XX

More about our partner.

The Association of Foundations (AF) is the Philippines’ largest network of heterogeneous non-government organisations (NGOs) and foundations with over 270 reputable developmental non-profits in its roster.

Established in 1972, we have over five decades of experience in working within and beyond the sector for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development.

Our collective mission is to continuously enhance the members’ capacities for good governance and social impact, and collaborate with other stakeholders to attain the development agenda of the Philippines.

Our work focuses on five interconnected Key Result Areas (KRAs):
I. Reinforcing Member Integrity and Accountability
II. Advancing Learning and Growth in the Non-Profit and Philanthropic Sectors
III. Driving Collaboration in the Development Ecosystem
IV. Amplifying Positive Social Impact
V. Sustaining an Institution of Excellence

We are foundations built on strength.

More about our partner.

The Association of Foundations (AF) is the Philippines’ largest network of heterogeneous non-government organisations (NGOs) and foundations with over 270 reputable developmental non-profits in its roster.

Established in 1972, we have over five decades of experience in working within and beyond the sector for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development.

Our collective mission is to continuously enhance the members’ capacities for good governance and social impact, and collaborate with other stakeholders to attain the development agenda of the Philippines.

Our work focuses on five interconnected Key Result Areas (KRAs):
I. Reinforcing Member Integrity and Accountability
II. Advancing Learning and Growth in the Non-Profit and Philanthropic Sectors
III. Driving Collaboration in the Development Ecosystem
IV. Amplifying Positive Social Impact
V. Sustaining an Institution of Excellence

We are foundations built on strength.

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