FSSI: 31 Years On
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On September 6, 2026, the Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Inc. (FSSI) marks its 31st anniversary, a milestone that invites us to look back on the work we have built together and, more importantly, to look ahead at the work that remains.
For 31 years, FSSI has worked alongside social enterprises, cooperatives, civil society organizations, and communities toward a more sustainable and inclusive future. While the challenges facing communities and enterprises continue to evolve, our commitment remains grounded in the same purpose: supporting organizations and enterprises that create meaningful social, economic, and environmental impact.
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In this issue, we share milestones and engagements that reflect this continuing work.
We are pleased to share FSSI’s accreditation by the Philippine Council for NGO Certification, Inc. (PCNC). This recognition affirms our commitment to good governance, transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship. For FSSI, these are not simply organizational standards. They are essential to building trust with our partners and ensuring that we remain accountable to the communities and enterprises we seek to support.
We also look at FSSI’s continuing engagement in spaces that bring together different actors in the social enterprise and development sectors. At the 5th Social Enterprise Advocacy and Leveraging (SEAL) Asia Conference, discussions on the digital divide, climate action, circular economy, women’s economic empowerment, and social investments highlighted the interconnected challenges that social enterprises must navigate as we work toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
Our work in renewable energy also continues to expand. Through learning sessions on solar photovoltaic systems and FSSI’s Solar Loan Products, we are helping social enterprises, cooperatives, NGOs, and other organizations better understand opportunities to adopt clean energy solutions and access financing. These initiatives reflect our continuing effort to make sustainability more practical and accessible for the organizations and communities we serve.
Beyond learning spaces and sectoral engagements, our work continues on the ground. Our teams have visited partners and prospective social enterprises in Southern Leyte, Mountain Province, Benguet, and Romblon, listening, learning, validating information, and understanding the realities and development plans of the organizations we work with. These engagements remind us that meaningful partnerships are built not only through programs and financing, but also through presence, dialogue, and a deeper understanding of our partners’ needs.
As FSSI turns 31, we recognize that an anniversary is not simply a celebration of how far we have come. It is also a renewed commitment to the work ahead. The needs of communities continue to change, and so must the ways we respond, with integrity, openness to learning, responsible financing, strong partnerships, and a continued focus on sustainable and inclusive development.
On behalf of FSSI, I thank our member organizations, social enterprise partners, co-financing partners, development partners, and the communities we work with for being part of this journey. Thirty-one years on, the work continues, and we remain committed to advancing sustainable and inclusive development for all.
