Rating Actions
September 18,
2003: ForeignAid Ratings assigns a rating of BB to Youth Forum 2001, a civil society organization
serving the youth of Razgrad, Bulgaria.
Background
ForeignAid Ratings provides third party
ratings and evaluations to eligible non-governmental organizations (NGOs), institutions, governments, and
businesses around the world. ForeignAid Ratings and Evaluations reflect the social impact,
organizational sustainability and integrity of participating organizations.
ForeignAid
Ratings and Evaluations are administered to small, medium, and large
organizations across a variety sectors, including:
|
Capacity Building –
of NGOs |
Information
Communications Technology (ICT) |
|
Capacity Building –
Other |
Law and Advocacy |
|
Capacity Building &
Human Empowerment |
Media, Arts & Culture
|
|
Education – Adult |
Micro-finance &
Economic Development |
|
Education –
Bi-lingual |
Philanthropy &
Corporate Social Responsibility |
|
Education – Formal |
Population
|
|
Education – Technical |
Research Institutes
and Think Tanks |
|
Environment
|
Social & Humanitarian
Services |
|
Health & Reproductive
Rights |
Water and Sanitation |
|
Housing |
Youth Development &
Education |
|
Human Rights & Social
Justice |
Other – Please
Specify |
An organization's rating is determined according to the
following three-stage Rating and Evaluation Methodology.
1. Fundamental Analysis
Our detailed application requires that NGO applicants provide information
about the following:
|
 Organizational
History
|
Financial
Sustainability |
|
Management
Team |
Environmental
Sustainability |
|
Mission |
Capital
Efficiency |
|
Innovation |
Transparency |
|
Financial
Controls and Accountability |
Planning,
Monitoring and Evaluation Systems |
|
Scalability |
Collaboration
& Partnerships |
2. Impact Analysis
Many organizations face
the problem of "over-organization." Their fundamentals are sound--they are
well very well organized and funded--but they lack impact. Applicants
answer questions about how they have improved the lives of people in their
community and country. Interviews of community members and beneficiaries are
conducted as needed. In addition, the measured impact is compared to
the funding received by the NGO. The Social Return on Investment (SROI) is
assessed.
3. Reference Analysis
This part of the analysis
requires three pieces of information: (1) References: Organizations provide at
least three references to people who can "vouch" for them. Our staff and the
local Country Review Panel contacts these references to discuss the NGO's
fundamentals and impact. (2) Press Clippings: Foreignaid Ratings searches
relevant magazines, newspapers, and the Internet to find any mention of the
organization in question. (3) Partnerships/Awards: Partnerships with
international organizations such as the EU, World Bank, UN, GNZ and USAID; or
foundations such as the Ford Foundation and Aga Khan Foundation; or
universities such as Ghana University and the University of the Philippines
can provide another point of reference.
Also, Foreignaid Ratings
looks favorably upon participation in the World Bank’s Development
Marketplace, UNO accreditation, Time Magazine’s Heros, and other selective
local, regional, and international programs.
Following the detailed application process, organization self-assessment, and
interview(s), a detailed score sheet is completed—marking the organization’s
social impact, financial health, and organizational integrity. The final
weighted score determines the organization’s Rating Grade.
Based on the
“Plan-Do-Check-Act” process of continuous improvement, there are four steps
towards achieving a Foreignaid Rating and Evaluation for your organization:
Stage 1: Plan/ Prepare
The Foreignaid Rating
Specification outlines the application and documentation requirements for
achieving a Foreignaid Rating.
The first step is
nominating someone within your organization who can take the responsibility of
completing the rating application, submitting the relevant documentation and
materials, and obtaining the commitment of the management team.
Stage 2: Do/
Implementation
Completing and collecting
the relevant documentation will be necessary for this implementation. The
detailed application should be read carefully and a draft of the application
should be completed and presented to the top management of your organization.
Finally, the completed application should be submitted on-line to your
Foreignaid Ratings Advisor.
Stage 3: Check/ Social
Audit and Rating Computation
Once your Ratings Advisor
is confident of the depth and clarity of the application, your application
will be evaluated by Foreignaid Ratings and our Country Review Panel of
experts.
After a two- to five-week
social audit—the length of which is dependant on the size of your
organization—the preliminary rating grade along with comments will sent to you
for your review. You will have one week to appeal this rating after which the
final rating grade, “Foreignaid Rating” certificate, and seal will be
delivered to you.
If you receive a rating
grade of BB or above, an additional “Foreignaid Certification” certificate and
seal will also be delivered to you.
The Foreignaid Rating and
Foreignaid Certification certificates are valid for a period of two-three
years.
Stage 4: Act/
Continuous Improvement
Foreignaid Ratings will
schedule periodic visits, semi-annually or annually, to monitor the relevance
of your rating grade. The constructive criticism provided by the Country
Review Panel and the Foreignaid Ratings team will help your team achieve
continuous improvement. Moreover, your Foreignaid Ratings Advisor will direct
you to resources that help your organization achieve an even greater social
impact.
The Rating and Evaluation Application
Please
click here or email
ratings@foreignaid.com to request
a Foreignaid Rating and Evaluation Application.
Fundamentals
A.
Basics
1.
Name of
Organization
2.
Website
3.
Contact Person
4.
Email Address of
Contact Person
5.
Phone Number of
Contact Person
6.
Organization
Address
7.
Country
8.
Phone Number
9.
Registration
Number
10.
Registration
Authority
11.
Phone Number of
Registration Authority
12.
Annual Budget
($USD)
13.
Number of Paid
Employees
14.
Number of
Volunteers
B.
History,
Mission
1.
Year Founded
(Registered)
2.
Mission Statement
3.
Target Community
4.
Social Sector 1
5.
Social Sector 2
6.
Key Projects
C.
Management
Team
1.
CEO Name
2.
CEO Email
3.
Number of Years
with Organization
4.
Second In Charge
Name
5.
Second In Charge
Email
6.
Number of Years
with Organization
7.
Key Board Members
and Officers
8.
Key Management
Team Members
9.
Upload CVs
Impact
(Sector
Specific)
Education
(Sample
Questions)
1.
What kind of
students do you serve (K-12; adults)
2.
Do you
own/operate schools?
3.
What subject
areas do you teach?
4.
How many students
have you educated?
5.
Do you offer
professional certifications or degree programs?
6.
How much do you
charge per course?
7.
How many teachers
do you employ?
8.
Where are the
classes held?
9.
Upload the
curriculum of at least one course/program.
10.
References for at
least 2 students.
11.
Which program are
you most proud of?
12.
Please upload
photos with captions from your favorite project.
Health
(Sample
Questions)
1.
What services do
you offer. Please check all that apply:
a.
Hospital(s)
b.
Mobile Medical
Camp(s)
c.
Mobile Drug
Dispensaries
d.
Permanent Drug
Dispensaries
e.
Local Community
Health Training
f.
Family Planning
Services
g.
Sex Education
h.
Medicine
Donations
i.
Doctor Training
j.
Nurse Training
k.
Midwife Training
2.
What is your
target community?
3.
How many people
have you served?
4.
How many doctors
do you employ?
5.
How many nurses
do you employ?
6.
Which program are
you most proud of?
7.
Please upload
photos with captions from your favorite project.
Research Institutes / Think Tanks (Sample Questions)
1.
What subject(s)
do you research?
2.
How many papers
has your organization published in the past year?
3.
How do you
measure your organization’s social impact?
4.
Do you actively
communicate your research to key decision-makers in your community?
5.
Please list the
titles of 2 papers/studies that you are more proud of.
6.
Please upload
photos with captions from your favorite project.
