Border Area Nonprofit Trends and Perception of Corporate Giving

A recent study released by the Institute of the Americas indicates that while there are currently 5,600 registered civil society organizations working in Mexico, the country needs at least 20,000 of these nonprofit organizations to efficiently cover the nation’s needs. Part of the reason for this gap lies in the fact that Mexico does not have an established culture of philanthropy that can support the development of an effective civil society. Nevertheless, regardless of the lack of philanthropic support, within the last ten years NGOs have taken on significant responsibility on a wide array of issues ranging from community development, human rights, and democracy, as well as health and human services, the environment, and education, among others. Not only are NGOs serving as a complement to the government, they are also acting as agents of checks and balances, holding the government accountable for its activities. [1]

Today more than ever, there is a growing acceptance among the Mexican government, private sector, and citizens alike, that NGOs have an essential role to play alongside, and in many cases, in place of the Mexican government.[2] This is a relatively new concept in Mexico, and it is the responsibility of all sectors to further the development of the third sector in Mexico. More specifically, the corporate sector has a crucial role to play, since the lack of corporate support translates into NGOs having to spend an extraordinary amount of time searching for funds through conferences, fundraisers, or other activities, rather than investing in the advancement of much needed development programs.

[1] Una Mejor Colaboración: Fortaleciendo la contribución de las empresas mexicanas a la sociedad civil. Institute of
the Americas. San Diego, 2005. Pg. 7.

[2]Una Mejor Colaboración: Fortaleciendo la contribución de las empresas mexicanas a la sociedad civil. Institute of
the Americas. San Diego, 2005. Pg. 8.