MANILA, Philippines - For the past 41 years, the Association of Foundations Philippines Inc. has been building and nourishing community foundations grow to a level that they can craft, market to donors, and execute their respective community-based projects and programs on their own.
AF’s guiding concern is to “build foundations and building a better future†that it did not mind not sharing the limelight with its successful members.
AF executive director Norman Joseph “Oman†Jiao envisions expanding their membership base. “We must rise up to the challenge,†Jiao said at the 41st general assembly last April 18 to 19 at the Asian Institute of Management.
AF has helped 126 diverse and heterogeneous members throughout the country become empowered organizations that would embark on projects that with lasting impact on their respective communities and stakeholders.
Because it empowers other people to identify, craft grant programs and projects and implement them on their own, the AF has always been behind the scenes.
The 2012-2013 officers of the foundation are headed by Judy A. Roxas as chairperson and Felicitas C. Rixhon as president, and vice presidents Daniel Urquico for Luzon, Roseo Depra for Visayas and Joemil Montebon for Mindanao; treasurer is Alejandro S. Escano while Ma. Cecilia Alcantara is secretary.
In 1987, together with CODE NGO (or the Caucus of Development-NGO Networks), it published the book NGOs in a New Arena, which provides reflections on managing fund mechanisms for development.
In 1998, the AF and five other networks formed the Philippine Council for NGO Certification, now a vital certifying body for foundations to be recognized by government as recipient of fiscal incentives (like tax exemptions).
In 2002, it established the Philippine Foundation Center, the first in Southeast Asia as a one-stop information center of Philippine grant makers and seekers aimed at matching members’ needs with available resources
The AF’s board of advisors is composed of the country’s tycoons, namely, Washington SyCip as chairman, and board members Jon Ramon M. Aboitiz, Tessie Sy-Coson, Jorge Araneta, Imelda O. Cojuangco, Nellie C. Delgado, Antonio O. Floirendo, George L Go, Archimedes King, Oscar M. Lopez, Andrew L. Tan, Lucio C. Tan and George SK Ty setting up an endowment fund that will sustain the operations of the foundation.