The Role of the Registry of Social NPOs in Supporting and Monitoring them

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the use of registries of NPOs, created in 2020 with the aim of supporting socially oriented NPOs (hereafter referred to as SO NPOs) during the coronavirus pandemic and analyzes the features of the new registry of SO NPOs created in 2022 on the basis of the former two. The article raises three research questions, namely the motivation of regulators to create two initial registries, the added value of the new registry compared to its predecessors, and its prospects as not only a support tool but also a monitoring tool. To answer the questions, the objectives, process of creation, and content of the registries were analyzed. A comparison was also made between the new SO NPOs registry and the registry of small and medium-­sized businesses. The comparison focused on the structure of the information presented and the functionality of its processing. The findings of the study are also based on semi-structured interviews with experts in the non-profit sector. As a result, several conclusions were made. The emergence of the two registries was the result of regulators searching for reasons to select SO NPOs in needed of support. A side effect of the two registries was the partial duplication of organizations included. The new registry shifted the focus from government support for SO NPOs to corporate support for them. The new registry has to some extent systematized information on SO NPOs, but the structure of the information presented and its functionality do not allow it to be a fully-fledged monitoring tool. Practical recommendations for the creation of a new type of registry of SO NPOs are also given.