Historic forum unites charities community in reform push

Figures from the island’s non-profit bodies on Friday took unprecedented steps towards establishing a collective framework for charitable operations in Barbados, marking what organisers called “a new dawn” for the philanthropic community.

Nearly 100 representatives from non-governmental organisations, voluntary groups, welfare entities and private sector charitable arms–known collectively as the Third Sector–gathered at Sandals Resort in Maxwell, Christ Church for the first meeting of its kind.

Peter Boos, whose charitable body, the Peter & Jan Boos Family Foundation, organised the event, said: “It’s crucial because if you don’t bring all the stakeholders together, you’re never going to get real collaboration. We have never had a meeting like this and I have been in this arena for a very long time. I think it is a new dawn so this is major.”

He highlighted the critical need for proper structure within the nonprofit sector.

The absence of a collaborative model which we’re trying to build now, is probably the biggest stumbling block,” said Boos. “This is probably the first time people in the private sector have sat down with people in the charity sector in a forum like this and talked about how we’re going to work together. That’s big.”

Tim Griffith, chief executive officer of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, addressed the gathering as the guest speaker. He noted the challenges non-profit organisations face in matching business-level efficiency. He emphasised that whilst charitable foundations typically prioritise their charitable work, operational effectiveness often receives insufficient attention.

“I would recommend… as Barbados embarks on this journey that they invest in the process as much as the outcome of the process itself and how everybody’s going to work together,” Griffith said at the meeting that was sponsored by the Sandals Foundation.

The forum discussed a ten-point framework aimed at measuring and achieving social development, economic resilience, and community well-being through the Third Sector in Barbados. Key areas included establishing a clear legal framework, securing financial support and incentives, building capacity, fostering collaboration and partnerships, and developing inclusive policies.

The Peter & Jan Boos Family Foundation, which has supported disadvantaged people in Barbados for more than two decades, intends to use the stakeholder forum as a mechanism to help other organisations enhance their philanthropic work whilst improving operational effectiveness.

Boos committed to organising more frequent forums, emphasising that genuine collaboration could only be achieved by bringing all stakeholders together regularly. (SZB)