Resource centers for socially oriented non-profit organizations: theory and practice of regional support
Abstract Nowadays resource centers for socially oriented non-profit organizations may be considered as a driver for the territorial development. However, government support often remains the key element for its functioning. The purpose of this work is to design proposals for improving measures of state support for the activities of resource centers based on a study of the experience of the Russian regions. Statistical data from the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, the authorities of the regions of the Ural Federal District, on the volume of state support provided to resource centers were studied. Descriptive methods, and analysis of current legislation were applied. It should be noted that regions have accumulated different experiences in providing government support measures to resource centers. The author`s proposals for improving measures of state support for the work of resource centers include the certification of resource centers, providing financial support on a long-term basis, and mandatory assessment of the effectiveness of support measures provided by authorities. Results of this research may have practical significance for the authorities of regions of the Russian Federation and representatives of the non-profit sector.
Keywords: resource centers, non-profit organizations, NPO, socially oriented non-profit organizations, SONPO, government support, non-prof it sector, region.
Highlights:
♦ it is proposed to consider resource centers simultaneously in three guises, namely as an element of the infrastructure for supporting the non-profit sector, as an object of state policy and as a subject of socioeconomic relations in a particular territory;
♦ the concept of "state support for the activities of resource centers for SONPO" has been clarified;
♦ the advantages and disadvantages of existing practices in the regions of the Ural Federal District for creating, operating resource centers and providing them with support from regional authorities have been identified.
Ekaterina I. Kaibicheva - Ural State University of Economics, Ekaterinburg, Russia