Cost recovery: what it means for CSOs

“Cost recovery” refers to the ways in which civil society organisations (CSOs) ensure that all the costs that they incur when implementing donor projects are recouped.

Due in part to increased competition, diminishing fundraising returns and external scrutiny of costs, many CSOs are becoming increasingly conscious of the need to plan and report their unrestricted funding with as much rigour as they account for their restricted funding.

Better understanding of costs offers greater transparency and efficiency for donors as well as better cost recovery for CSOs.

This report provides some background and current research on cost recovery, as well as recommendations for sustainable, transparent and cost-effective resourcing of CSOs.

Find out more about Bond and Mango’s work on cost recovery.