Solutions

The Problem

Cambodia is a major foreign aid recipient. Despite this, emerging, entrepreneurial nonprofits often are ineligible for funding since they can’t demonstrate a history of grant revenue and long-term programming. At the same time, without funding, these nonprofits struggle to establish the requisite track record to become eligible. Not only does this cyclical dilemma deprive Cambodia of fresh voices and energy for change, but it also furthers the trend of concentrating aid in urban areas where most major nonprofits operate, ignoring the regions where most Cambodians live and the majority of poverty persists.

Our Solution

CCDF seeks to fill this funding gap by providing microgrants to growing nonprofits. The energetic, skilled leaders of our partner organizations, many the children of the genocide years, are the future leaders of Cambodia. Born and raised in Cambodia, they understand the unique development challenges of the country and are recognized and respected by community members, allowing them to quickly gain people’s trust and confidence. From knowing local customs to navigating rural areas with bare-minimum infrastructure, they have a wealth of direct experience, deep knowledge, and a passionate drive to ensure that assistance reaches those who need it most.

Our grantees are committed to the maintenance and long-term success of projects that fulfill are community needs in a tailored, effective way. CCDF’s role is to provide these organizations with capital as catalysts for big change.

Sustainability

We seek partners with programs promoting economic growth through loans, educational initiatives, agricultural development, and environmental stewardship, but this growth must be sustainable.As partners become stronger, they rely less on CCDF’s support, transitioning to either a self-sufficient market-based model or to donors with greater resources. As partners complete this cycle, CCDF’s funds are freed to help new, emerging partners, ultimately broadening the Cambodian network of nonprofit development and training.

Value

It is important to CCDF that our donors get the maximum return on their philanthropic investments. Working through Cambodian partner organizations is more cost-effective than working alone. Such partners not only understand the complexity of the development issues facing the country, and thus can use each dollar of support more effectively, but they also have fewer administrative costs overall than large foreign-run nonprofits.

We at CCDF are all volunteers, donating our own time, professional expertise, and money to the foundation. This allows us to set overhead costs as low as possible, thus ensuring that the greatest possible percentage of every nonprofit dollar goes directly to Cambodia.

Accountability and Transparency

We require the highest standards of accountability and conduct a rigorous review of our partners’ programming and accounting practices to ensure that they remain accountable for the funds that are granted.

All grant decisions are made by committee. We look for strong leadership, evidence of sound financial management, innovative programming, scaleable, and community needs and involvement. We aim to be completely transparent and accessible, both to our funders and our grantees.

We see CCDF as an important long-term investment in the future of Cambodia and an innovative model that can be replicated to produce lasting economic development around the world.