We all know that NGOs are mainly working for the welfare and development of underprivileged section of the society. But very few people know what is NGO and how NGOs are Funded ? So in this article we will discuss about many aspects of NGOs. Let us start with, What is an NGO?
NGO stands for Non-Governmental Organization which is a non-profit group that functions independently of any government. NGOs, sometimes called civil societies and NPO also, are organized on community, national and international levels to serve a social or political goal such as humanitarian causes or the environment.
• NGOs play a major role in international development, aid and philanthropic work.
• NGOs are non-profit by definition, but may NGOs running budget is in corers of rupees each year.
• NGOs rely on funding sources from private donations and membership dues to government grants.
Some NGOs rely primarily on volunteers, while others runs with the support of paid staffs. The World Bank identifies two broad groups of NGOs:
• Operational NGOs, which focus on the design and implementation of development projects.
• Advocacy NGOs, which defend or promote a specific cause and seek to influence public policy.1
Do u know how NGOs are Funded ?
NGOs rely on a variety of sources for funding, including:
• Membership dues
• Private donations
• The sale of goods and services- Social marketing
• Grants
• Subscription
Despite their independence from governments, many NGOs rely on government funding. And the activities of NGO cant not sustain without these findings and grants .
Let us Know the types of NGOs.
There are variations of the NGO acronym exist:
• INGO: An international NGO.
• GONGO: This means government-organized NGO
• QUANGO: A quango is a quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization that relies on public funding. Its senior officials are appointed by the government.
• CBO- Community Based Organization.
• GRO- Grass-roots Organization
When the term, “non-governmental organization” or NGO, came into use?
The term, “non-governmental organization” or NGO, came into use in 1945 because of the need for the UN to differentiate in its Charter between participation rights for intergovernmental specialized agencies and those for international private organizations. At the UN, virtually all types of private bodies can be recognized as NGOs.
As of now in 2021, there were reportedly over Thirty lakhs NGOs registered in India. The majority of these organizations are charity organizations and development-oriented NGOs.
NGOs are components of social movements within a civil society. NGOs can have an important role in strengthening the foundations of an emergent civil society. But it is important for the NGO to have transparency in its operations so that its credibility should be among the people its serving.
