Top 18 Types of NGO: Which You Should Always Know

Top 18 Types of NGO: Which You Should Always Know

You all must be well aware that NGOs play a vital role in solving social, economic, and environmental challenges. Everyone works individually and not under government control to enhance social well-being, fight for human rights, provide relief, and ensure sustainability. 

Depending on the focus and nature of their operations, NGOs can be classified quite easily into different types. Knowing all these classifications can help all kinds of individuals and organizations better work with the NGOs that best suit all their goals and values.

So that’s why today in this blog post we will try to know how many top 18 types of NGOs are there and we will also discuss each NGO in detail. So let’s start this blog post on the types of NGOs now.

What is the NGO?

What is the NGO?

NGO stands for non-governmental organization. These are independent of government control, making the organization not-for-profit. NGOs can take a variety of forms, such as humanitarian work, educational institutions, cultural centers, environmental movements, and advocacy groups. 

These sectors, in short, play a vital role in addressing social concerns and developing local development initiatives by encouraging citizen and community participation.

How are NGOs Governed in India?

How are NGOs Governed in India?

NGOs in India are governed by a mix of statutory law, guidelines, and self-regulation. The primary frameworks and aspects of governance that apply to NGOs in India are as follows:

Legal Framework:

  • Registration: NGOs in India can register themselves under a variety of acts, including the Societies Registration Act, of 1860: Applicable to societies formed for charitable purposes.
  • Indian Trusts Act, 1882: This applies to organizations that are formed as trusts.
  • Companies Act, 2013: NGOs can be registered as Section 8 companies.
  • Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010: This act came out to regulate the acceptance of foreign contributions and accordingly the receipt of foreign donations by NGOs, thereby ensuring transparency and honesty of its acceptance.

Governance Structure:

  • Governance Structure: In NGOs, the governing body of the board of directors performs general management and decision-making. The governing body is usually composed of volunteers or members with specific expertise.
  • Bylaws: Each NGO will need to create bylaws or rules outlining general objectives, specific governance structures, and operational procedures.

Financial Accountability:

  • Auditing: NGOs must maintain proper financial records and audit them periodically for transparency and accountability, especially NGOs receiving foreign contributions. 
  • Annual Reports: NGOs are often required to submit annual reports containing financial statements to the relevant authorities reflecting their activity and expenditures incurred.

Regulatory Compliance:

  • NGOs are subject to all local, state, and national laws, such as tax laws, labor laws, environmental laws, etc. 
  • In addition, they are also subject to periodic inspections and reporting obligations from government agencies to check compliance with legal norms.

Funding and Accountability:

  • Most NGOs receive funding from a variety of sources, such as donations, grants, and government aid. The use of funds must be transparent to maintain public trust and credibility.

Advocacy and Policy Influence:

  • Many NGOs are engaged in advocating for social change as well as influencing public policy. They partner with the government, other NGOs, and community organizations to pursue this appropriately.

What are the Top 18 Types of NGOs?

There are a total of 18 types of NGOs, the names of all of which we have mentioned very clearly below:

  • International NGOs
  • Community Organization
  • National NGOs
  • Empowering Orientation
  • Citywide Organizations
  • Participatory Orientation
  • Charitable Orientation
  • Service NGOs
  • Advocacy NGOs
  • Developmental psychology
  • Empowering NGOs
  • Operational NGOs
  • Oxfam
  • Participatory Ngo
  • Charity
  • City-Wide Organisations
  • Education
  • Health NGOs

We have given information about all the above-mentioned NGOs individually till now.

International NGOs

International NGOs work around the world and try to address issues that have no boundaries, including poverty climate change, and human rights. Generally, they work together with the government local organizations, and international bodies to implement their programs in different countries.

Community Organization

Community organizations are NGOs that focus on solving local issues in specific communities at the grassroots level. They have direct contact with community members, encouraging participation and self-reliance among them through collective action and problem-solving.

National NGOs

National NGOs work within a given country, and in most cases, they also have an interest in issues such as education, health, or human rights. In most cases, national NGOs work closely with the government as well as other local bodies to change policies and launch programs that are effective.

Empowering Orientation

An empowered NGO focuses on developing the capacity of individuals and communities to take responsibility for their own development. Improving skills, knowledge, and assurance about rights and needs empowers people in this way.

Citywide Organizations

Citywide organizations work in urban areas and mainly focus on certain issues like housing, sanitation, education, or social services. Urban organizations always cater to the needs of marginalized people and strive to improve urban living conditions.

Participatory Orientation

Participatory orientation NGOs involve the community at every stage of decision-making. They promote teamwork and involve their beneficiaries in any project they adopt, implement, and evaluate for sustainability.

Charitable Orientation

Charitable-oriented NGOs are those that provide direct aid and relief. Such NGOs offer their services in the form of food distribution, emergency relief, or healthcare support. These NGOs are primarily concerned with alleviating the immediate suffering of their clients.

Service NGOs

Service NGOs deliver health services, education, or housing to poor or marginalized communities, and may own and operate hospitals, schools, or community centers whose direct service seeks to meet the needs of vulnerable populations.

Advocacy NGOs

Advocacy NGOs aim to change public policy and create greater public awareness as a means of bringing about desired changes in environmental protection or human rights, using campaigning, lobbying, and education as well as promoting direct legal and social change.

Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology NGOs focus on the psychological and emotional development of people, especially children and youth. At times, such organizations may advocate for research, provide psychological services, and create awareness of psychological issues and development.

Empowering NGOs

Empowerment NGOs seek to provide means and techniques to empower marginalized or vulnerable groups. Most of these organizations employ processes such as education, training, and community organization to help individuals or communities gain control over their lives.

Operational NGOs

Operational NGOs execute development projects by implementing programs at the grassroots level or providing services such as disaster relief, healthcare, etc. This type of NGO seeks concrete results in the form of direct achievement of specific needs by running programs at the grassroots level.

Oxfam

Oxfam is a non-governmental international organization working to eradicate poverty fight inequality and fight for human rights and justice on a global scale. They work in a number of areas including humanitarian aid, advocacy, and long-term development.

Participatory NGO

Participatory NGOs empower local communities at every stage of programs and involve them in the decision-making and implementation processes. This promotes sustainable development through ownership by community members.

Charity

Charity-oriented NGOs work for the needy through charitable activities. These are groups that provide food, clothing, shelter, and healthcare to targeted groups. These organizations mostly work on relieving suffering and hardship.

City-Wide Organisations

At a city-wide level, NGOs address urban challenges in issues related to homelessness, access to healthcare, education, and jobs. They typically conduct activities at the local government level aimed at uplifting the lives of marginalized urban populations.

Education

Education NGOs typically strive to increase access to quality educational services for marginalized communities or other disadvantaged groups. Activities undertaken may be building schools, providing scholarships to needy students, or providing literacy and vocational training.

Health NGOs

There is a constant quest by health NGOs to improve the public’s health through education, advocacy, and direct medical services. Direct services can include running healthcare services, advertising campaigns on public health, or advocating for improved health policies and better medical care.

If you want to know about making NGO like Trust you can click here

What are the Different Levels of NGOs?

There are a total 4 levels in India for NGOs which we have explained in detail below:

  • Local NGOs: It is based on grassroots issues such as sanitation, education, or healthcare in specific communities.
  • National NGOs: They work on national-level issues, such as policy change reform, health initiatives, and education activities.
  • International NGOs: They work internationally on issues such as poverty, human rights, and environmental protection, but in partnership with governments and local NGOs.
  • Community-Based Organizations (CBOs): Small, informal groups addressing local needs such as social welfare and community development.

What are the 4 Principles of NGO?

What are the 4 Principles of NGO?

There are a total 4 principles in India for NGOs which we have explained in detail below:

  • Accountability: NGOs should be transparent to donors beneficiaries and stakeholders, especially about what is happening, governance, and finances.
  • Sustainability: Programmes should have long-term impacts so that communities can benefit from them even after external support is withdrawn.
  • Participation: Involvement of local communities in policymaking will ensure that the solutions provided are relevant to needs and promote ownership by local people.
  • Equity and Inclusion: NGOs should advocate for equality so that their services reach the most marginalized, especially those in the minority.

What are the Pillars of NGO?

What are the Pillars of NGO?

There are a total 4 pillars in India for NGOs which we have explained in detail below:

  • Vision and Mission: A clear vision and mission give direction to the organization, setting goals for it.
  • Governance and Leadership: Strong governance and leadership ensure that operations are ethical and effective. The role of an active board is crucial for this purpose.
  • Funding and Resources: Sustainable funding and efficient resource utilization are essential to carry out ongoing operations and ensure the success of projects.
  • Impact and Monitoring: Regular monitoring and evaluation help projects meet their objectives and remain relevant in the long run.

If you want to know more about the pillars of NGO then click here

In Conclusion

All NGOs are agents of social change, working in various fields for justice, equality, and sustainability. What matters is that what kind of NGO a person chooses to join depends on his or her personal or corporate values, goals, and passions. 

Understanding the different types of NGOs and their various roles can help people connect with them in a more meaningful way and hence feel a greater impact.

In the end, we hope that you all will not face any kind of complexity after getting information about the types of NGOs in this blog post.

FAQs

1. What type of organization is an NGO?

NGOs are groups of people who understand their social, environmental, or humanitarian issues and work independently of the government but individually.

2. What are the types of NGO registration?

NGOs in India can be registered as a trust, society, or Section 8 company under the Indian Trust Act, Societies Registration Act, or Companies Act.

3. Do NGOs pay taxes?

NGOs in India are generally exempt from income tax, provided they meet certain qualifications under Section 12A and 80G of the Income Tax Act.

4. What is the 85% rule for trust?

NGOs or charitable trusts operating in India are legally mandated to ensure that expenditure related to charitable causes is at least 85% of their income so that they can maintain tax exemption.

5. What are the 3 characteristics of an NGO?

NGO stands for non-governmental organization. It is independent of the government, and non-profit and does humanitarian, developmental, or advocacy work for the betterment of society.

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *