The Forward Puerto Rico Fund was originally intended for 30 organizations that Red de Fundaciones de Puerto Rico, now Filantropía Puerto Rico, identified as game-changers in the context of the local government bankruptcy and the threat of losing legislative funding for the nonprofit sector. For four years and on top of the devastation left by Irma and María in 2017, Puerto Rico has been facing multiple challenges and emergencies.

The philanthropic sector, through Filantropía Puerto Rico, managed to become a space for open dialogue to attract key players from Puerto Rico and abroad willing to invest in the development, strengthening and mobilization of core resources to support organizations in the fulfillment of their purpose.

Filantropía Puerto Rico established partnerships for the creation of a common fund with focus areas and grantmaking policies unprecedented in the history of philanthropy in Puerto Rico. In addition, it allowed for an organized distribution of aid funds that were being channeled to the island.

The Forward Puerto Rico Fund became the backbone that successfully guided the mission of Filantropia Puerto Rico, not only for their investment in the recovery and reconstruction of Puerto Rico but also for the design of activities that have promoted engagement and amplified the social impact in areas of equity, collaboration, transparency and social justice.

CONCLUSIONS

• The Fund helped bring in new members of philanthropy with an interest in recovery and development in Puerto Rico.
• The change in the Fund’s focus from addressing emergencies to addressing priorities based on a collective consensus of the philanthropic sector was effective. Grants were directed to third-order changes, meaning systemic change focused on equity and social justice.
• The philanthropic sector contributed in areas that historically had not been addressed, such as:
  • encouraging organizations to develop an emergency reserve fund,
  • generating data and conducting research on issues relevant to the events of interest in the country,
  • promoting the use of data for:
    • developing an education observatory
    • promoting government transparency
    • supporting the development of public policy
    • encouraging citizen participation in the sustainable energy issue
    • monitoring of political candidates and citizen voting process
    • contributing directly to plans and actions related to systemic change in Puerto Rico.
• The Fund changed the dialogue between the founders of the Foundations Network and new members interested in becoming part of the collective. The conclusion was that the Fund has allowed the creation of a space for open dialogue, plans and actions focused on social impact. In addition, it led its members to reach agreements about proposed guidelines for the distribution of funds.
• Most organizations that received grants explained how this Fund contributed to the continuity of their operation and the establishment of policies for managing finances during an emergency. They also documented how it changed the dynamics of their boards of directors. The Fund motivated them to work harder to secure resources for the operational sustainability of the institution.
• The Fund help to strengthen
  • Investigative and independent journalism,
  • organizations that advocate for housing, education, health and environmental rights in Puerto Rico, and
  • work for racial and gender equity and access to essential services through citizen participation projects.
• It contributed to initiatives that opened up conversations among government officials, the private sector and the general public.
• Beyond the required periodic reports, the Fund strengthened the culture of planning, evaluation and accountability among participating organizations.
• Finally, the philanthropic sector has benefited from having a space that seeks the best collective good. The Fund gave them the financial stability to enable joint development and establishment of strategies for social impact, just recovery and adoption of resilience practices in the sector and the communities it serves.
• In summary, the Fund’s activities proved to be instrumental in driving equitable recovery and increasing resilience in vulnerable populations and organizations.