Main Page

NGO Handbook

Table of Contents

NGO Overview Definitions, fundamental nature, classification, types, numbers, history of the NGO sector	NGO Country Profiles The NGO sector in particular nations	NGO Organization Mission and vision statements, organizational documents, governing body, human resources
Legal Types of structures, incorporating and registering, tax-exempt status	Financial Operating budget, accounting practices	Fundraising Sources of funding, foundation grants, grantmaking
Marketing Overview, marketing strategies, communications, public relations	Project Management Project management, program evaluation, impact and risk assessment	Information Management Information management, Information technology
Networking & Partnerships Networking, partnering with NGOs, relations with the United Nations	Strategic Planning Steps in strategic planning, SWOT analysis	NGO Accountability & Ethics Overview of NGO ethics, codes of ethics and conduct, certification and self-certification programs, NGO ratings, and so forth
How to Start an NGO Start up funds, organizing documents, establishing a board of directors, funds and fundraising, office management	.	Appendix: Detailed Index

Getting started
Consult the User's Guide for information on using the wiki software.

Welcome to the NGO Handbook

The NGO Handbook is designed to provide leaders of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as scholars and interested researchers, an ever-expanding resource on the Third Sector worldwide. Emphasis in particular is placed on practical information of relevance for the success of NGOs.

The umbrella-term “NGOs” refers to a broad, kaleidoscopic grouping of organizations that can differ considerably in size, resources, organizational level, mission, form, and orientation. This handbook encompasses organizations known variously as NGOs, nonprofits, charities, civil society organizations, third sector organizations, and so forth – essentially any organization that is set up as a not-for-profit organization and has not been established and run by a governmental entity or intergovernmental agreement.

NGOs have surfaced as major players in addressing the serious challenges confronting humanity. In recent decades, the number of NGOs worldwide has increased dramatically, along with a strengthening of their influence and a broadening of their activities. They now impact policies and advance initiatives that once were nearly exclusively the domain of governments and for-profit corporations. This is the “NGO revolution.”

The NGO Handbook is a wiki-based work, which contains carefully selected articles that were written by a team of scholars and NGO practitioners with competence in their subject areas. Each article has carefully undergone an initial editorial review. However, readers can appreciate that, as a wiki-based work that is continually revised by those with approved access, the publishers of this handbook cannot vouch for the accuracy of each entry. Individuals with expertise in a particular area, who would like to be a contributor to the NGO Handbook, are invited to submit their credentials.

• Configuration settings list
• MediaWiki FAQ
• MediaWiki release mailing list