Development Prospects of Non-Profit Organizations as Suppliers of Social Services: on the Example of the Volgograd Region

Abstract

The article provides an analysis of the formation of the social services market in the Volgograd region since the adoption of a federal law that introduced fundamental changes in the field of social services, allowing non-profit organizations to act as full participants in the social services market. A review of domestic publications addressing key issues is presented: economic and managerial aspects of access of non-profit sector organizations to the social services market, infrastructure support, the formation of a state support system, successful regional practices. The role of non-governmental suppliers in the social services market is shown, the specifics of the modern institutional structure of the social services market are described. The current state of the social services market is characterized, the data of the report of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia for 2018 on the implementation by the constituent entities of the Russian Federation of measures to ensure access to non-profit organizations to budgetary funds are presented. The main quantitative indicators of the social services market of the Volgograd region are highlighted. The results of a sociological study showed that the majority of the population does not use the services of non-profit organizations, the popularity of their services is low, and free services are most in demand. The possibilities of non-profit organizations when entering the social services market of the Volgograd region were identified: extensive experience in providing services, the availability of proven social technologies, targeted nature of assistance, customer focus. Despite the creation of conditions for expanding the access of non-governmental organizations to budget financing, there are barriers to accessing the social services market: delayed cost recovery when services are completed, economically unjustified tariffs, insufficient compensation to non-state suppliers, unnecessarily bureaucratic reporting procedure of non-profit organizations for services provided. To develop the demand and supply of non-profit organizations, it is necessary to inform the beneficiaries in more detail about the quality of the services provided, tariffs, increase the level of public confidence, introduce successful experience in other regions. Creating favorable social and economic conditions, consolidating the efforts of all interested parties can create an effective system of social services in the Volgograd region on the principles of interagency cooperation.