nongovernmental organization (NGO)

Organization that is not part of any government. A key distinction is between not-for-profit groups and for-profit corporations; the vast majority of NGOs are not-for-profit. In some countries, particularly socialist ones, some NGOs are government-organized. The purposes of NGOs cover the entire range of human interests and may be domestic or international in scope. Many NGOs are key sources of information for governments on issues such as human rights abuses and environmental degradation. Some NGOs fulfill quasi-governmental functions for ethnic groups that lack a state of their own. NGOs may be financed by private donations, international organizations, governments, or a combination of these. In Britain, quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organizations, or “quangos,” are organizations that have nonelected boards and receive public funds which they also disburse. Seealso Amnesty International; Greenpeace; World Wildlife Fund.

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The term nongovernmental organization or NGO is sometimes used to describe these groups, although it more correctly refers to an entity working domestically. Both terms, NGO and INGO, should be differentiated from intergovernmental organizations or IGOs, which describes groups such as the United Nations or the International Labour Organization.

Founding

An INGO may be founded by private philanthropy, such as the Carnegie, Rockefeller, Gates and Ford Foundations, or as an adjunct to existing international organizations, such as the Catholic or Lutheran churches. A surge in the founding of development INGOs occurred during World War II, some of which would later become the large development INGOs Oxfam, Catholic Relief Services, CARE International, and Lutheran World Relief.

Examples

Major INGOs include: World Organization of the Scout Movement, CARE International, Mercy Corps, Oxfam International, World Vision International, Save the Children Alliance, Amnesty International, Caritas International, MBAs Without Borders, International Rescue Committee, International POPs Elimination Network, and Compassion International.

See also

• Foundation (charity)
• Non-profit organization
• Think tank