Contributions of Charitable Societies to Community Development and Promoting Sustainability, A Study of an Innovative Project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the role of charitable organizations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in achieving sustainable community development. It also sought to provide a comprehensive analysis of an innovative project that reflects a new approach to delivering humanitarian and social care, in addition to identifying the main challenges facing charitable organizations in the Kingdom and proposing innovative solutions to enhance their developmental role.

The study adopted a qualitative approach and included semi-structured interviews with nine experts in the fields of charitable work, development, and social innovation. It also involved the analysis of five real-life cases of individuals who benefited from the innovative charitable project. Additionally, interviews were conducted with five other beneficiaries of the same project.

The study reached several findings, the most prominent of which are: charitable organizations are a key component in promoting community development by providing essential support to vulnerable groups; and the innovative charitable project demonstrated a positive impact on the living, health, and psychological conditions of beneficiaries by offering comprehensive services in health, social, and economic aspects.

The results also highlighted the importance of utilizing innovative solutions in managing charitable projects to achieve long-term sustainability, especially by using technology to track beneficiaries and deliver support effectively. Moreover, the findings indicated that the main challenges facing charitable organizations in the Kingdom include limited funding, heavy reliance on donations, weak coordination between different sectors, technical difficulties in employing smart applications among some groups, and the need for an institutional environment that encourages experimentation and innovation.