What are NGOs?

What exactly is a non-governmental organization (NGO)? This question often pops into my head as I scroll through articles and social media posts about social impact. However, I didn’t take the time to research it until I became involved in Novel Hand. 

As a humanitarian community, Novel Hand helps bridge the gap between the passion of our current generation to address injustice and the pathways to make necessary changes. As Emma S. wrote in her piece about nonprofits and social enterprise, a “large goal [of Novel Hand] is also to make humanitarian change more tangible by defining common terms that are used.” Inspired by Novel Hand’s mission and my fellow writer, I finally decided to learn about NGOs.

The Definition, or the Lack Thereof

Disclaimer: There is no one precise definition. 

The World Bank defines NGOs as “private organizations” that are dedicated to causes like poverty alleviation, environmental preservation, community development, and provision of social services. 

But what would a “private organization” look like? Is there a set level of influence? According to David Lewis, Professor of Social Policy and Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science, a reason why there is no one precise definition is that “NGOs are a diverse group of organizations that defy generalization, ranging from small informal groups to large formal agencies.” 

In order to determine what would constitute an NGO, it may be simpler to determine what an NGO is not. For example, in order to maintain the “non-governmental” label, NGOs must operate independently of any governmental entity, operating “without any governmental oversight or representation.” However, there may be NGOs that receive government funding in the form of grants. Meanwhile, other NGOs are funded by membership dues and private donations by individuals, foundations, and corporations.

What is the Relationship Between NGOs and Nonprofits (NPOs)?

One way to view this relationship is with the “all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares” analogy. According to Maryville University, all NGOs are NPOs but not all NPOs are NGOs.

The terms “NGO” and “NPO” are often interchangeably used because both advance human welfare and society development. They both promote the common good. 

However, they differ in two ways: the scale of operation and the level of political influence. 

NPOs tend to be local organizations with one main focus – like addressing housing instability in the Phoenix Metropolitan area – though they may evolve into organizations that operate on a larger scale. Even if NPOs expand enough to gain a political edge, “most are too small to influence politics beyond the municipal level.”  

NGOs, on the other hand, tend to be international organizations driven to make a larger impact, like advocating for Indigenous rights in South America. While non-governmental, it is necessary for NGOs to have political connections across multiple nations in order to improve the quality of life on a larger scale.

What are the Different Types of NGOs?

The two main ways to categorize NGOs are by the organization’s orientation and by its level of operation. Orientational (advocacy) NGOs have the primary purpose of promoting a certain cause through different methods, while operational NGOs have the primary purpose of designing and implementing method(s) on different levels. One way to view them is as an intersection of two axes, one denoting orientations – the “How?” – and the other denoting levels of operation – the “Who?” or “Where?” Any NGO can be a cross-section of these axes.

According to the Global Development Research Center, operational or advocacy NGOs may take on any of the following orientations:

1. Charitable orientation is characterized by a “top-down paternalistic effort” with little to no effort on the part of beneficiaries. An example is the international NGO The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
2. Service orientation involves the provision of social services through a program designed by the NGO and the participation of beneficiaries for effective implementation of the program and reception of the services. An example is the popular online education source, Khan Academy.
3. Participatory orientation is characterized by the involvement of the community itself in addressing issues that affect them throughout the implementation process for a project. An example is Habitat for Humanity, which is centered on affordable housing and developing independence as a homeowner.
4. Empowering orientation involves guiding a community in understanding the different socioeconomic and political factors that affect them and how they can increase their sense of self-agency. An example is the International Planned Parenthood Federation, which focuses on sexual and reproductive health and empowering individuals to make their own choices in family planning.

Operational NGOs may operate on any of the following levels:

1. A community-based organization is one that involves initiatives that focus on the smaller, local community. An example is St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix, AZ, which is known as the world’s first food bank.
2. A citywide organization is one that addresses issues on the municipal level. For example, the Metro-Atlanta Food Initiative is based in the Atlanta Metropolitan area and aims to address food insecurity heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
3. A national NGO involves engagement and impact on the national level, like YMCA.
4. An international NGO is one that involves engagement and impact on the international level, like Save the Children.

While NGOs do not have to be limited to one cause or attributed to one level of operation, it is important for individuals, foundations, corporations, governments, and even fellow NGOs to understand the implications of these types. The category that an NGO falls under may not indicate its effectiveness, but it may allude to the degree and sphere of influence that it has. When individuals are eager to be involved in addressing a certain issue, they may assess whether the orientation of the NGO fits with their preferred method of involvement or whether its level of operation suits the individual’s intended recipient and scale of impact. 

As for foundations, corporations, and governments, they may evaluate whether an NGO is “worth” investing in depending on whether the orientation and level of operation of the NGO align with their own missions and values. Other NGOs may be searching for opportunities of collaboration within and across different orientations and levels of operation in order to bring as much of a positive impact on the intended community as possible.

If you are interested in NGO work, we encourage you to reflect on how you plan to stay engaged and to pay attention to the orientation and level of operation of NGOs. This can help you to understand the bridge between your intent and the change you wish to make.