| Description |
EU funds have been one of the driving resources in the development of Czech non-profit sector for more than a decade. In the proposed paper we seek to discover the determinants of the success of NGOs in obtaining the resources from EU funds on the national level. We rely on the data provided by the Czech authorities that comprise information about the project applications aiming at utilizing the EU resources. More specifically, we analyze data on the allocation of resources within the Human Resources and Employment Operational Programme (HREOP) which was operated between 2007 and 2013 and belongs to the largest EU fund-distributing programs in the Czech Republic (allocating app. 7% of all resources dedicated to the Czech Republic), with 14.990 projects. As there are several types of recipients, we set aside projects submitted by private, business and state subject and selected only projects that were submitted by non-profit subjects (foundations, associations, churches etc.). In the analysis we use both variables related to submitting organizations (various types or resources, organizational structure, age, transparency etc.) and to the project proposal itself (number and type of project partners, required resources, state of submission etc.). Based on the unique and unexplored dataset covering the Czech EU funds recipients we focus on the attributes of NGOs that enable them to become successful applicants. Our research questions are: what organizational and project-related attributes are the most important for the successful project submission and EU money allocation to non-profit organizations? Is the mechanism of allocation of EU-related resources empowering the already resourceful and professionally-run nonprofits or does it give a chance also to less institutionalized and hierarchized actors? And, what is the comparative effect of organizational and project-related attributes on the chance of having a successful project application. While choosing the determinants that could affect the NGO accession to EU funds we follow main economic theories of the third sector, particularly the government failure theory (Weisbrod 1977; ibid 1991; Young 2000), market failure theory (Hansmann, 1987; ibid, 1996; Weisbrod, 1988; Douglas, 1987), resource dependence theory / supply-side theory (Salamon and Anheier, 1997), interdependence theory (Hansmann, 1986; Salamon, 1987), and social origins theory (Salamon and Anheier, 1998; Salamon, 2002). The theoretical background is supported by several foreign empirical studies that (at least partly) deal with the examined issue. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of understanding on the selectivity criteria when allocating EU funds to NGOs. The lack of adequate conceptual framework supports the need to address the issue concerning the allocation determinants and thus being both of theoretical and practical importance. Especially in the specific political, legislative and socio-economic conditions of the Czech Republic as a post communist country after a quarter of a century since transition.
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