The NGO School Foundation is the largest resource center in Russia providing comprehensive counseling support to organizations which develop civic initiatives. The key objective of the Foundation is to disseminate key knowledge on the legal, financial, and management aspects of nonprofit activity and create platforms for exchange of experience and further development of the Russian nonprofit sector.

The NGO School Foundation was established in 1997 by Charities Aid Foundation UK under the name of Consultations for Associations and Foundations, an autonomous nonprofit organization. After five years of successful operation it was reorganized into the NGO School Foundation.

The mission of the Foundation is to ensure professional development of nonprofit organizations and provide support to civic initiatives. Over the years, more than 3000 nonprofit leaders from 63 regions of Russia have taken part in educational programs of the Foundation. The NGO School has also been implementing large projects, many of which aim at encouraging children, youth and adults to actively participate in the efforts to improve the quality of life in cities and villages. During the ten years the Foundation has been providing consultancy services which help nonprofit organizations to cope with the legal and financial issues they face daily.

Currently, the NGO School Foundation operates in five major areas.

Consultancy Services – comprehensive advice in legal, financial, and fundraising issues that may arise in nonprofit organizations. The NGO School Foundation is the only such service in Russia providing high-quality consulting support to nonprofit organizations free of charge.

Trainings and Educational Programs – short-term and foundation courses for nonprofit organizations on issues of public administration, marketing, and use of innovative technologies. The NGO School is now developing a much broader range of courses and searching to investigate certain topics in finer detail.

Information Services – up-to-date information about changes taking place in the third sector; an online library will soon be launched containing the most important documents and resources on various aspects of nonprofit activity.

Developing International Partnerships – the NGO School Foundation plays an active role in establishing international cooperation links allowing Russian NGOs to become not only mere grant recipients, but also equal opportunity partners.

Developing Social Projects and Promoting Civic Initiatives – design and examination of social projects for particular regions and businesses carrying out charity activities. The high level of expertise allows the NGO School team to create social programs which cater for the needs of businesses, governmental institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

Today the NGO School Foundation is a sustainable independent nonprofit organization, an expert in the field of promoting civic initiatives. A creative team composed of 32 staff, advisors and trainers actively implements seminars, consultations, trainings and projects like How to Live With the New Legislation on NGOs, Increasing Private Donations to the Russian Nonprofit Sector, and Social Projects School, thus bringing to the clients the most current knowledge and working technology.

In 2007 The NGOSchool Foundation is celebrating its 10^th anniversary!