How to Define an NGO
The NGOs Greenpeace or WWF are well known: images of yellow Greenpeace flags and inflatable boat protests against whaling ships come to mind. 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 represent social interests and act independently of governments and states. The UN defines NGOs as international organizations not established by an intergovernmental agreement.
Purpose, Tasks, Topics & Financing of an NGO
As civil society non-profit organizations, NGOs pursue socio-political, social and ecological purposes. Thematic areas include environmental and climate protection, humanitarian aid, development cooperation, human rights and social justice. More and more NGOs are also basing their work on the so-called Sustainable Development Goals formulated by the UN and are setting themselves the goal of working towards their implementation. To assert their interests nationally and internationally, NGOs often lobby and try to be heard by politicians and society.
Social education, awareness-raising work, consultation and protest are some of the means by which NGOs try to assert their interests vis-à-vis politicians. Even though non-governmental organizations advise governments and help develop climate protection legislation, for example, they still act 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. Even if the state sometimes provides funding for certain projects or studies of an NGO, the organizations are independent of the state. This also enables them to sharply criticize laws or the inaction of governments. In order to receive regular donations, it is important for NGOs to conduct fundraising in Switzerland as well as digital fundraising. In this way, they remain independent and can promote their interests to the international community.
What is the difference between an NPO and an NGO?
The terms NGO and NPO, short for: Non-Profit Organization, are often used synonymously. There are five defining characteristics of NPOs. They are:
- formally organized,
- private, i.e. non-governmental,
- without distribution of profits,
- self-governing, in the sense of legal and organizational autonomy,
- honorary.
The distinction between the two terms is not always easy, but in principle these differences can be noted:
- NGOs are dedicated to political and social issues, whereas NPOs have a broader range of topics.
- 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.
- NGOs are “do-gooders”, NPOs tend to provide services and goods.
→ In principle, every NGO is an NPO, but conversely, not every NPO is automatically an NGO.
Why do NGOs exist? And the Importance of NGOs
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. That is why the role of non-governmental organizations is becoming increasingly important. Independent of states and governments, NGOs criticize regimes that violate human rights, commit environmental sins, or contribute to worsening global problems through sheer inaction.
Even corporations and companies cannot escape the influence of non-governmental organizations. However, how NGOs make their criticisms public and the ways in which they contribute to changing social, environmental, or humanitarian conditions can vary.
How Does an NGO 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 work to protect the environment. This includes the fight against climate change, the destruction of ecosystems and the commitment to species conservation. However, how the two NGOs 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. But the boycott against Shell is also one of the larger actions of the organization Greenpeace: to prevent the sinking of the oil platform of the oil company Shell in the North Sea, activists occupied the platform. The worldwide protest that was stimulated by the action finally made the company relent.
Organizations such as the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) act, if possible, less activist and try to represent their interests through cooperation. In this way, WWF helps companies to make their production methods more sustainable; in return, the company is allowed to print the well-known Panda logo on its products.
These are, of course, just a few examples of how conservation organizations operate. There is much more to the work of NGOs. One of the big components of conservation organizations is research. Through science, new knowledge and also solutions for the future are to be gained. With their expertise, NGOs also support governments in drafting new laws or work closely with international organizations such as the United Nations.
Rise of NGOs in Switzerland – Which NGOs are there?
The number of non-governmental organizations has increased significantly in recent years. In 2022, there were more than 20’000 NGOs worldwide. In Switzerland, too, there are numerous well-known NGOs that work for social, humanitarian or ecological causes. Doctors without Borders, UNICEF Switzerland, Save the Children Switzerland and WWF Switzerland are just a few NGO examples. Can you identify with the interests of NGOs in Switzerland? Then use the donation platform of stiftungschweiz.ch and donate for a good cause. On the platform you will find not only large and well-known NGOs, but also smaller organizations. With the numerous practical filters, you can easily find organizations or projects that support your cause of the heart.
