Workshops

An NGOs true costs include core costs (also known as indirect or nonprogram costs), organizational development costs, and reserve funding, along with direct program costs. NGOs often face challenges in accurately computing their true costs, which can impact their financial viability and sustainability.

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We are thrilled to announce the launch of the True Cost Computation and Communication Guidelines, authored by Aria CFO Services in alignment with The Bridgespan Groups "Pay-What-It-Takes" India initiative. The launch took place in New Delhi on August 21st, 2024, in the esteemed presence of  CA Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal.

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The True Cost Computation and Communication Guidelines for NGOs in India aim to help foster greater financial transparency and good governance, and unlock stronger partnerships between NGOs and funders. It offers guidance for NGOs to accurately estimate the complete costs of running their organisation, which is essential to ensure they can operate effectively and sustainably while working towards their mission.

The guidelines include a set of recommendations and suggestions based on best practices and relevant regulations in India. These guidelines (for voluntary adoption) can help NGOs (esp. mid to large NGOs with annual expenses >  INR 3Cr)  across different sectors/ themes and social impact goals (service delivery, advocacy, systems change, etc.) to estimate their true costs, and communicate the same to the funders at proposal and budgeting stages. 

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Agenda for the workshops:
15 m: Networking, Tea/Coffee, and Snacks
2 h 30 m: Session 1 - True Cost - Concept and Computation
45 m: Lunch Break
2 h: Session 2 - True Cost - Communication and Practical Aspects
30 m: Q&A and discussion

We are conducting a series of workshops throughout India to help NGOs understand these guidelines better and apply them to raise better quality of funding. Over the last two months, we've had three successful workshops in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. 43 NGOs attended these test workshops:

1. 87% conveyed their intention to incorporate the guidelines within their respective organizations.

2. 93% affirmed that the workshop successfully met their overall expectations.

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Noteworthy comments include:

a. "Provided a clear understanding of cost allocation, computation, and effective approaches to engage with funders, encompassing a diverse range of funding sources."

b. "Facilitated the establishment of a bridge between Finance, Programs, and Senior Management, ensuring the feasibility of accurate budgeting practices and promoting good governance."

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We are thrilled to announce five upcoming sessions scheduled for February 2024. We warmly invite you to participate in one of the following workshops: