NGO Transparency Initiative (NGO-TI)

The NGO Transparency Initiative (NGO-TI) is an online platform developed by the Association of Foundations (AF) as part of the collective efforts to promote the integrity, transparency and accountability of the non-government organization (NGO) sector. This is in partnership with the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC) and with funding support from the Consuelo Foundation.

Why NGO-TI?

AF initiated the NGO-TI as an attempt to address the declining public trust on NGOs by distinguishing legitimate NGOs from the bogus NGOs implicated in corruption cases. While these cases involved bogus NGOs, they nonetheless erode public trust on the entire NGO sector, which could impact on the sector’s credibility to effectively fulfill its mandate.

Transparency, a good governance principle, is seen as a means of setting apart legitimate NGOs from these bogus NGOs. Through NGO-TI, AF is encouraging NGOs to demonstrate transparency by voluntarily making key information available to the public. This platform also serves as a building block to enhance accountability of the NGO sector.

What NGO-TI contains

In response to this initiative, AF member organizations voluntarily made accessible to the public the information that indicates their compliance with the regulatory requirements as non-stock, not-for-profit organizations. In this initial phase, the platform contains the following information:

Member Name

The name can be clicked to direct you to the member organization’s website.

General Information Sheet (GIS)

The GIS is one of the two mandatory annual requirements for non-stock, not-for-profit organizations. A check (✔) mark indicates that the GIS of that corresponding organization for the indicated year was already submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission as evidenced by a “received” stamp, and a copy was forwarded to AF Secretariat.

Audited Financial Statement (FS)

This is the other mandatory annual requirement for non-stock, not-forprofit organizations. A check (✔) mark indicates that the FS of that corresponding organization for the indicated year was already submitted to the Bureau of Internal Revenue as evidenced by a “received” stamp, and a copy was forwarded to AF Secretariat. For organizations that follow a fiscal year, a check mark indicates that the FS for the period that includes December of the year indicated has been submitted to BIR and AF.

Annual Report

While not a requirement of the government, the annual report or description of the organization’s programs and activities is required from all AF members. This is part of AF’s scorecard. A check (✔) mark indicates that the report for the indicated year has been submitted to the AF Secretariat. For organizations that follow a fiscal year, a check mark indicates that the report which covers December of the year indicated has been submitted to AF.

Commitment to Code of Ethics

AF has adopted CODE-NGO’s Covenant on Philippine Development and Code of Conduct in its guiding principles in development work and the code of ethics that ought to be observed by its own members. View the Code of Conduct here. A check (✔) mark indicates that the organization pledged commitment to the Code of Conduct.

PCNC date certified and PCNC expiry date

For organizations certified by PCNC, these information would indicate the duration of their certification. The certification makes the organization eligible for tax incentives within the certification period. The PCNC certification is also “seal of good housekeeping” for having met certain standards set by PCNC.

The information is continuously populated and updated when mandatory requirements with a “received” stamp from the concerned government agency are forwarded to the AF Secretariat. Options to further enhance the platform, including possibly expanding the information made available, is also being explored. Changes will be instituted once assessed feasible.

What NGO-TI is not?

designed as a regulator, evaluator or a watchdog
making the actual documents available through the platform to safeguard their appropriate use. But AF vouches the existence of documents that are marked as submitted.

MEMBERS

Members Name

GIS 2021

Audited FS 2020

NAR 2020

Commitment to Code of Ethics

BIR
Expiry Date

PCNC
Expiry Date

Engage and Participate