What exactly are NGOs?
Many people are familiar with Greenpeace and the WWF: Images of yellow Greenpeace flags and rubber dinghy protests against whaling ships appear in the mind’s eye. The logo with the WWF panda bear can be spotted on many a product when shopping. But what exactly are NGOs, what do NGOs do and how do they finance themselves?
Organizations such as Amnesty International, Caritas, Save the Children and others belong to the so-called non-governmental organizations, or NGOs for short. These non-governmental organizations (NGOs) represent social interests and act independently of governments and states. NGOs employ specialists as speakers, campaigners, fundraisers and administrative staff. The UN defines NGOs as international organizations that were not established by an intergovernmental agreement.
Tasks, goals & structure of non-governmental organizations
As civil society non-profit organizations, NGOs pursue socio-political, social and ecological goals. They often take the legal form of an association or a charitable foundation, and some are also registered as charitable limited companies. Topics include environmental and climate protection, humanitarian aid, support for children, women and refugees, prevention of violence, human rights and children’s rights as well as social justice. More and more NGOs are also basing their work on the so-called Sustainable Development Goalsformulated by the UN and aim to work towards their implementation. In order to assert their interests vis-à-vis the national and international community, NGOs engage in lobbying and express their goals in campaigns which, supported by society, are intended to exert pressure on politicians.
Social education, awareness-raising work, advice and protest are some of the means by which an NGO tries to assert its interests vis-à-vis politicians. Even if an NGO advises governments and is involved in the development of climate protection laws, for example, it still acts independently of states and governments.
The non-governmental organizations are financed solely by the contributions of their members, by donations from private individuals or by funds from grant giving organizations. The state also provides funding for certain NGO projects or studies, but is not allowed to influence the content. This also enables NGOs to sharply criticize laws or the actions of governments. It is important for an NGO to receive regular donations, Fundraising in Switzerland and digital fundraising. In this way, NGOs remain independent and can bring their interests to the attention of the international community.
NPO vs. NGO: the difference between non-governmental organizations & non-profit organizations
The terms NGO and NPO, short for: Non-Profit Organization, are often used interchangeably. However, the definitions of NGO and NPO differ in some respects.
There are five defining characteristics of NPOs:
- Formally organized
- private, i.e. non-governmental
- without distribution of profits
- self-governing, in the sense of legal and organizational independence
- honorary
The distinction between the two terms is not always easy, but in principle these differences can be noted:
- NGOs focus on political and social issues, whereas NPOs have a broader range of topics, including cultural and religious objectives or the pursuit of their own interests.
- NGOs tend to have an international focus, while NPOs have a national, regional focus.
- NPOs are not only financed by donations and grants, but also generate their own financial resources, e.g. as cooperatives, cultural institutions or healthcare facilities.
- NGOs are “do-gooders”, while NPOs tend to offer services and goods or focus on the private interests of a group.
→ In principle, every non-governmental organization is a non-profit organization, but conversely, not every NPO is automatically an NGO.
The importance of NGOs for society
We live in a globalized world: goods, services and finances are interconnected all over the world. While the influence of individual states is declining, large corporations continue to gain power. Problems such as climate change, species extinction, terrorism or the violation of human rights do not stop at national borders. People in need, children in poverty or the treatment of refugees are also transnational issues that are given a platform by NGOs and are recognized by the public. That is why the role of non-governmental organizations is becoming increasingly important. Independent of states and governments, an NGO criticizes regimes that violate human rights, commit environmental sins or contribute to a worsening of global problems simply by not acting.
Even corporations and companies cannot escape the influence of non-governmental organizations. However, how NGOs publicize their criticism and how they contribute to a change in social, environmental or humanitarian conditions can vary.
How does a non-governmental organization act? Examples of Well-Known NGOs
The different approach of non-governmental organizations is illustrated by the example of the NGOs Greenpeace and the WWF. Both NGOs are organizations that campaign for environmental protection. This includes the fight against climate change and the destruction of ecosystems as well as the protection of species. However, how the two non-governmental organizations pursue these goals is very different.
Greenpeace, for example, relies on large-scale action and activism to achieve its goals. One of the best-known examples is the campaign against whaling, which inspired a great deal of protest in the 1970s. However, the boycott against Shell is also one of the larger actions of the NGO Greenpeace: activists occupied the oil platform of the Shell oil company in the North Sea to prevent it from being sunk. The worldwide protest that was stimulated by the action finally made the company relent.
The World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) is generally less activist and tries to represent its interests through cooperation and alliances. For example, WWF experts help companies to make production processes more sustainable. In return, the company is allowed to print the NGO’s well-known panda logo on its products.
Of course, these are just a few examples of the actions of nature conservation organizations. There is much more to the work of NGOs. A large part of the work of non-governmental organizations is, among other things, the promotion, support and implementation of research projects. Scientific findings are used to uncover grievances and find solutions for the future. With their expertise, NGOs also support governments in the development of new laws or work closely with international organizations such as the United Nations.
NGOs in Switzerland: How many NGOs are there in Switzerland & where can I find them?
The number of non-governmental organizations has increased significantly in recent years. In 2022, there were more than 20,000 NGOs worldwide. Numerous well-known NGOs are also active in Switzerland, working for social, humanitarian or environmental causes. Doctors without Borders, UNICEF Switzerland, Save the Children Switzerland and WWF Switzerland are just a few NGO examples. There are also Swiss NGOs such as Swisscontact. In the foundation directory at StiftungSchweiz you will find a list of NGOs based or operating in Switzerland. Use the clever search and filter functions to find the organizations that are of interest to you. The StiftungSchweiz donation platform is the largest of its kind in Switzerland and also provides an overview of interesting non-governmental organizations and projects.
