Venture was honored to serve as one of the resource speakers for the “Strengthening SDWA Foundations: Cultivating Core Competencies for Enhanced Service Delivery” activity organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Standards Bureau (DSWD-SB). The initiative forms part of the Bureau’s continuing efforts to strengthen the capacities of Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs) nationwide.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development - Standards Bureau is a regulatory arm of the agency responsible for ensuring the program quality and compliance of Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs) by setting standards, accrediting and licensing organizations, monitoring adherence, providing capacity-building support, and enforcing relevant laws and regulations.
As part of its capacity-building efforts, the Standards Bureau recently launched ‘Strengthening SWDA Foundations: Cultivating Core Competencies for Enhanced Service Delivery.’ The initiative seeks to empower agencies by emphasizing good governance, program relevance, and resource mobilization, which are key factors in delivering responsive and accountable social services to vulnerable communities.
The first batch of the training was held from October 6–10 at Pinnacle Resort and Villas in Boracay, Aklan, bringing together 61 participants from 22 SWDAs across Visayas and Mindanao. The second batch followed last October 20–24 at Madison Hotel in Quezon City, with over 80 participants from 27 SWDAs, mostly from Luzon. Each batch gathered a diverse mix of Board members, Executive Directors, and social workers from organizations serving children, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities (PWDs), LGBTQ+ individuals, and other sectors, dedicated to improving the quality of life of vulnerable and marginalized communities.
Representing Venture in both batches, our Executive Director Ms. Pinky Medina led discussions under the module “Helping Strategies and Intervention,” focusing on two vital topics:
Ms. Medina debunked common myths and misconceptions about fund raising and guided participants through a constituency mapping exercise designed to help them identify and strengthen strategic partnerships. The session underscored that sustainable programs are built on meaningful collaboration and long-term relationship-building.
Recognizing that effective resource mobilization is key to organizational resilience, Ms. Medina introduced practical fundraising strategies to help organizations access diverse funding sources—grants, gifts, and earned income. Participants engaged in an activity to identify suitable approaches for their own contexts, enabling them to reduce dependency on a single funding stream and strengthen overall financial sustainability.
Across both batches, Venture emphasized that sustaining meaningful social impact requires more than passion and dedication—it demands a strategic and systems-based approach to resource mobilization, partnership-building, and financial management.
Venture expresses its heartfelt gratitude to the SWDAs from Batches 1 and 2 for their active participation, enthusiasm, and commitment to strengthening their organizations and uplifting the communities they serve.
We also thank the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Standards Bureau for giving us the opportunity to support the growth and development of the participating organizations. We look forward to continuing to work together to help organizations build stronger, more impactful programs.
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