There are many success stories from the region, particularly at the local level, and part of the challenge is to identify and disseminate these successes more systematically. While Latin American countries have undergone dramatic transformations with democratization and policies of privatization and decentralization, an enormous social deficit still plagues much of the region. Other participants noted the obstacles facing organizations that engage in philanthropy in Latin America today. Periods of crisis impose serious constraints on building sustainable institutions. There is a need for legal and tax frameworks that support philanthropic participation and institutionalization among third sector organizations.
Innovative strategies do exist, however.
Ariel Fiszbein of The World Bank described research on partnerships between the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, and their contribution to reducing poverty. Jim Austin of the Harvard Business School presented a parallel model of successful partnerships between business and nonprofit organizations in the United States. There is general consensus that raising awareness of philanthropy and the third sector is fundamental in overcoming barriers to change. Alicia Cytrynblum recalled the initial confusion that took place in launching the magazine Tercer Sector. Today, in contrast, she described how journalists rely on the magazine for their coverage of civil society in Argentina.