Investing in Ourselves: Giving and Fund Raising in Thailand

Abstract

As the role of civil society organizations becomes increasingly recognized as crucial to development, good governance, quality of life, justice and human rights in any given society but especially in a developing country like Thailand, the issue of funding for sustainability of civil society organizations becomes critical and warrants serious investigation. This multicountry project, Investing in Ourselves: Giving and Fund Raising in Asia, provides a good opportunity for the Thai team to study issues relating to resource mobilization, in particular fund raising and giving in the Thai context. Although the scope of the study is limited by time and budgetary constraints, among other limitations, the survey study and the research and writing of the cases have provided significant insights into the funding methods of CSOs in Thailand. The survey study has also given us new insights into how Thai people perceive philanthropy, their behavior in giving, and their motivations for giving. Results from the survey have dispelled some common-sense beliefs about giving. It has also confirmed some assumptions on the behavior and motivation of giving.