How Civil Society Organizations Build Resilience in the Face of Financial and Political Pressures: Lessons from Czechia, Hungary, and Bulgaria

Authors

Merrill Sovner, CUNY Graduate CenterFollow

Keywords

Civil Society Organizations, Resilience, Closing Space, Aid Withdrawal, Institutional Complexity

Abstract

How are some civil society organizations (CSOs) able to pivot and innovate in the face of political hostility and funding withdrawal, while others shrink or become inactive? It posits that it’s not just the external environment, funding, or degree of political pressure, but attributes intrinsic to each CSO that narrows the range of possible responses. It is based on sample of CSOs in Czechia, Hungary and Bulgaria that faced political pressures and funding withdrawal between 2010 and 2019. CSOs responded in three ways: reduced staff and expenditures, replaced lost funding while operating in a similar way, or reframed their work, changing their activities and communications to find new audiences. CSOs were more likely to pivot when they had missions and identities that didn’t require specific activities, decision-making structures that allowed input while being able to come to a consensus, and leadership willing to try new approaches and the ability to reach different audiences. As CSOs around the world experience a massive decrease in funding while facing increasing political hostility, this research provides important insights for practitioners seeking to support CSOs to build resilience and sustainability.

Recommended Citation

Sovner, Merrill (2025) "How Civil Society Organizations Build Resilience in the Face of Financial and Political Pressures: Lessons from Czechia, Hungary, and Bulgaria," Journal of Nonprofit Innovation: Vol. 5: Iss. 3, Article 11.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/joni/vol5/iss3/11