Non-governmental organization

simple:NGO

A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) is an organization which is independent from governments and their policies. Generally, although not always, these are non-profit organizations, and gain at least a significant proportion of their funding from private sources. Because of the negative definition, (the implication that an NGO is anything that is not government), many NGOs now prefer the term Private voluntary organization (PVO).

They exist for a variety of different purposes, usually to further political/social goals of their members. Some example goals improving the state of the natural environment, encourage the observance of human rights, or improve the welfare of the disadvantaged, or represent a corporate agenda, but there are a huge number of such organisations and their goals cover a broad range of political and philosophical positions.

NGOs also vary in their methods. Some act primarily as political pressure groups, others primarily conduct programs to help their goals (for instance, an NGO concerned with poverty alleviation providing food aid to the needy).

The relationship between business, governments, and NGOs can be quite complex and sometimes antagonistic, particularly when NGOs act to oppose some activities of governments and businesses.

See also: charity, philanthropy, service club.

Example of different types of NGOs: (contains links to external sites)

• Campaign / Issue Organizations
  • AIESEC
  • American Civil Liberties Union
  • Amnesty International
  • Greenpeace
  • Human Rights Watch
  • Refugees International
  • Transparency International

• International Relief and Development Organizations
  • International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
  • IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre
  • CARE
  • Mercy Corps
  • The Hunger Project
  • International Rescue Committee
  • Catholic Relief Services

see also Attacks on humanitarian workers

• Domestic Charitable Organizations
  • Lions Clubs International

• Quasi-autonomous non-government organisation
  • International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which is a marginal case. It defines itself as an NGO, but is a network of the government standards agencies of 147 countries.

• Treaty Organizations (Independent organizations that act very much like NGOs, but are established and mandated by intertnational treaties)
  • International Committee of the Red Cross

• Trade Associations and Industry funded interest groups
  • Americans for Balanced Energy Choices, a non-proffit lobbey organization funded by the US coal industry
  • The California Raisin Marketing Board
  • A right wing think tank linked NGO, critical of the activities of NGOs

see also: Political science, Quasi-autonomous non-government organisation