So what exactly are NGOs, before looking into how NGOs can help, lets understand what an NGO is, types of NGOs , how NGOs are funded,some of their features, and how they help.
What are NGOs?
A non-governmental organisation (or NGO) is a non-profit organisation that functions independently of any government.
This means that their work is not influenced or affected by the government, as in, they have their own set of goals, visions and missions that they want to accomplish. And these goals are solely set to benefit the society in a greater or impact-full way to bring a better change(for example, humanitarian or environmental, etc) rather than benefiting a particular individual entity or a governmental entity. Due to this reason NGOs are often called as Civil Organisations. There are different types when it comes to NGOs, some are solely based on volunteerism , while others support paid staff members working.
A few common goals of NGOs are :
- Human rights and child rights
- Poverty eradication
- Animal Rights
- Prevent Social Injustice
- Conservation of Environment
- Empowerment of women
- Health and Nutrition plans
- Conservation of Wildlife
How are NGOs funded?
Although these organisations are non-profit in nature, they have to rely on several sources for their funding. This funding will in-turn ensure their proper functioning. An NGO’s annual expenditure can be in the hundreds of millions (or even billions) of dollars, depending on the type of work they do, thus fundraising efforts are important for the NGO’s existence and success.
There are several funding programs available for an NGO to raise funds for itself,here are a few ways an NGO can get funded :
- Membership Dues — Membership dues allows individuals to give a certain incentive to the non-profit organisation in exchange of some form in involvement in the organisation.The organisation extends additional engagement opportunities to members in exchange for donations in the form of membership fees
- Private Donations — A private donation is a gift of cash or property made to a non-profit organisation, generally by large private organisations, to help it accomplish its goals, the amount of the donations may subject to change every year.
- Sale of Goods and Services — The Non-governmental organisations can also attempt to sell some form of goods or service provided by them in order to gain funding for their functioning.
- Grants from other NGOs — In some cases an NGO may be funded by another larger NGO, These NGOs may be funded based on their common goal of accomplishment or just to support.
- Government Funding — Even though a non-profit organisation is not influenced by any aspect of the government, it may receive funding from the government for its functioning purposes.
- Multilateral Development Banks — Multilateral Development Banks are international banks or agencies that fund agencies for specific causes. These funds are often designated for a specific purpose and should be used accordingly to the outlined designations.
- Development Assistant Agencies — For a young NGO just breaking into the world of aid, aid of development agencies in local countries may be available. Much like the multilateral development banks, these agencies have specific conditions and goals they are targeting.
- UN Funding — We have all heard of the United Nations and the humanitarian causes they stand for. For a viable NGO making change, they can approach the UN for some additional funding, however it needs to be noted that pleasing the UN for funds is quite a challenging task.
Types of NGOs
The World Bank identifies two broad groups of NGOs:
- Operational NGOs: these classes of NGOs focus on the design and implementation of development projects.
- Advocacy NGOs: these classes of NGOs which defend or promote a specific cause and seek to influence public policy.
Some NGOs may fall under both categories simultaneously.
Furthermore, the NGOs can be classified as :
- INGO — INGO stands for International NGO. An INGO is an organization which is independent of government involvement and extends the concept of a non-governmental organisation(NGO) to an international scope.
- BINGO — A “Big International” NGO, such as the Red Cross. These are also called “business-friendly” NGOs.
- GONGO — This means Government-Organized NGO, often derogatory. Foreign Policy describes GONGOs as a government-backed NGOs set up to advocate on the behalf of a repressive regime in the international arena.
- ENGO — An Environmental NGO, for example, Greenpeace or the World Wildlife Fund. Both groups operate internationally in addition to advocating for the environment. They are often simply referred to as NGOs
- QUANGO — Chiefly a British term, often derogatory. A quango is a Quasi-Autonomous non-governmental organisation that relies on public funding. Its senior officials are appointed by the government.
There are several other types of NGOs that are functioning , and they are mainly named based on their purpose and characteristics.
Features in an NGO
- The NGOs work together and pursue the same objectives. its organisation for this reason it is based on what is known as common leadership.
- NGOs pursue a specific cause, be it social, pursuing human or environmental rights among others.
- For the objectives of an NGO to be carried out, an NGO will always need funds or investments for the development of its activity.
How NGOs help :
Development and Operation of Infrastructure:
Community-based organisations and cooperatives can acquire, subdivide and develop land, construct housing, provide infrastructure and operate and maintain infrastructure such as wells or public toilets and solid waste collection services. They can also develop building material supply centres and other community-based economic enterprises. In many cases, they will need technical assistance or advice from governmental agencies or higher-level NGOs.
Supporting Innovation, Demonstration and Pilot Projects:
NGO have the advantage of selecting particular places for innovative projects and specify in advance the length of time which they will be supporting the project — overcoming some of the shortcomings that governments face in this respect. NGOs can also be pilots for larger government projects by virtue of their ability to act more quickly than the government bureaucracy.
Facilitating Communication:
NGOs use interpersonal methods of communication, and study the right entry points whereby they gain the trust of the community they seek to benefit. They would also have a good idea of the feasibility of the projects they take up. The significance of this role to the government is that NGOs can communicate to the policy-making levels of government, information bout the lives, capabilities, attitudes and cultural characteristics of people at the local level.
NGOs can facilitate communication upward from people tot he government and downward from the government tot he people. Communication upward involves informing government about what local people are thinking, doing and feeling while communication downward involves informing local people about what the government is planning and doing. NGOs are also in a unique position to share information horizontally, networking between other organizations doing similar work.
Technical Assistance and Training:
Training institutions and NGOs can develop a technical assistance and training capacity and use this to assist both CBOs and governments.
Research, Monitoring and Evaluation:
Innovative activities need to be carefully documented and shared — effective participatory monitoring would permit the sharing of results with the people themselves as well as with the project staff.
Advocacy for and with the Poor:
In some cases, NGOs become spokespersons or ombudsmen for the poor and attempt to influence government policies and programmes on their behalf. This may be done through a variety of means ranging from demonstration and pilot projects to participation in public forums and the formulation of government policy and plans, to publicising research results and case studies of the poor. Thus NGOs play roles from advocates for the poor to implementers of government programmes; from agitators and critics to partners and advisers; from sponsors of pilot projects to mediators.
Social Safety-Valve Role
NGO plays a crucial role in organising the public inconvenience and becomes an advocate to the societal problems and needs. They play a significant role in lending voice to the poor and needy.
Improve Government Performance
It is one of the functions of NGO to ensure that the government is responsive and are solving the problems of the citizens thus making the governments work accountable. NGO is also authorised to give suggestions and encourage improvement and flexibility in the government’s policymaking by giving their own research teams and expertise.
The Service Role
The non-profit organisation works as a mechanism through which people worried about any social or economic difficulty which can respond and lend their helping hands. NGO help in beneficial conflict resolution and creates the environment of trust and confidence.
Building Community Participation
The non-profit organisation proposes substitute perspective that includes the capability to carry out a meaningful dialogue with disadvantaged communities. Many NGO are working to conserve and encourage India’s diverse culture. They have different communities all across the world who is participating to serve the same interest of NGO.
Women Empowerment
The performance of major functions of NGO has come a long way in working for women empowerment. Few of the examples like fighting against sati, dowry, cruelty, other social menaces to educating women, lowering the female foeticide rate, employment to female, etc.
It is still giving their best in removing gender inequality .There are many foundations working for such causes like Sewa, Agrani foundation, Eklavya, and Environmental Action Group etc.
Sustainable Development
This area needs the maximum attention because nobody is compromising their present needs and is destroying natural resources to achieve their selfish goals.
Therefore, NGO is keeping an eye to all of this and coming up with control measures to prevent an over-utilisation of natural resources which is the reason to environmental threats which later cause health problems and natural calamities.
Apart from these roles played by NGOs, there are several activities that are performed by NGOs , a few of which are :
Advocacy and Raising Awareness
NGO is a voice for every individual. Researching, analysing and to inform the public about the prevalent issues and to organise citizen action by conducting media campaigns and other kinds of activism.
Brokerage
NGO acts as an agent between various sectors and groups.
Conflict Resolution
NGO works as a mediator and facilitator in solving resolution.
Building Capacity
NGO provides free education, training programs and other information.
Service Delivery
It functions the delivery of essential humanitarian and other social services.
Monitoring and Evaluation
NGO acts as a ‘watchdog’ or independent ‘auditor ‘of government and corporate performance and accountability.
So now that we know something about NGOs , we as individuals can also help an NGO with it’s purposes , here’s a few :
- Sightsavers — It is a charity for blind people that has been in action in India since 1966 and is registered with the government. The charitable organisation believes in providing all students with a chance to prove their skills despite their disabilities.
- Child Rights and You (CRY) — CRY is a non-governmental organization that helps restore the rights of children to build a society that promises equality, justice, and dignity to all irrespective of their birth.
- Give Foundation — It provides a platform to all those who wish to support a noble cause. It allows an individual to support a cause of his/her choice while making sure that the organizations to which the funds are being transferred has been evaluated for transparency and credibility
- GOONJ — a voice, an effort — Started by Anshu Gupta, its main objective is to provide disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and leverage community development.
All of these NGOs do their best to full fill their purpose based on a goal that they’re willing to reach, but one of the best NGOs that you can donate to is Suvidha Foundation.
Suvidha Mahila Mandal is a non-profit organisation working to impart education among the financially challenged sections to help them realise parity in education and strength of little minds in building a promising future. The organisation has provisions of student internships, student mentor-ship and the scope to volunteer. Through these programmes, the organisation aims to achieve the vision of imparting innovative education that stays with the students forever and equip them for the unforeseen future.
To donate to, or work for this amazing NGO, visit Suvidha Foundation at https://suvidhafoundationedutech.org/#. Also check them out at other platforms :