By Kavita Dehalwar
NGOs can also be classified based on their legal structure, constitution, and mandates. The legal framework under which an NGO operates can influence its organizational structure, funding sources, and activities. Here are different types of NGOs based on their constitution and legal mandates:
- Community-Based Organizations (CBOs):
- Constitution: Typically informal, with a focus on community-driven initiatives.
- Legal Mandate: Often registered at the local level, emphasizing community development and engagement.
- Nonprofit Organizations:
- Constitution: Governed by a board of directors or trustees.
- Legal Mandate: Registered under specific nonprofit or charity laws, with a focus on serving the public good.
- Trusts:
- Constitution: Governed by a trust deed that outlines the objectives and management structure.
- Legal Mandate: Operates as a legal entity, managed by trustees for charitable or beneficial purposes.
- Foundations:
- Constitution: Governed by a foundation charter or constitution.
- Legal Mandate: Typically established for philanthropic purposes, with a focus on grantmaking and supporting charitable causes.
- Associations:
- Constitution: Governed by articles of association or bylaws.
- Legal Mandate: Formed by individuals or organizations with common interests to achieve specific social, cultural, or economic goals.
- Cooperatives:
- Constitution: Governed by cooperative bylaws.
- Legal Mandate: Formed by individuals with shared economic goals, emphasizing democratic ownership and control.
- International NGOs (INGOs):
- Constitution: Governed by international agreements or charters.
- Legal Mandate: Operates across borders, often registered under the laws of the country where they are headquartered or established.
- Advocacy Organizations:
- Constitution: Emphasizes advocacy goals in its founding documents.
- Legal Mandate: Focuses on influencing policies and legislation to promote specific causes or interests.
- Social Enterprises:
- Constitution: May take various legal forms, often incorporating both profit and social impact goals.
- Legal Mandate: Balances financial sustainability with social or environmental impact, operating for a dual bottom line.
- Professional Associations:
- Constitution: Governed by bylaws or articles of association.
- Legal Mandate: Represents the interests of professionals in a specific field, often providing support, standards, and advocacy.
- Religious NGOs:
- Constitution: Guided by religious principles or doctrines.
- Legal Mandate: Operates based on religious beliefs, providing charitable services and community support.
- Government-Organized NGOs (GONGOs):
- Constitution: May resemble an NGO but is initiated or controlled by a government entity.
- Legal Mandate: Works in collaboration with or under the influence of the government, often to implement specific programs or policies.
Here’s a table with examples of NGOs across various sectors based on their areas of focus:
| Type of NGO | Examples |
|---|---|
| Human Rights NGOs | Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch |
| Environmental NGOs | Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) |
| Health NGOs | Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), Partners In Health |
| Development NGOs | Oxfam, CARE International |
| Education NGOs | Teach For All, Room to Read |
| Emergency Relief NGOs | International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World) |
| Gender and Women’s Rights NGOs | UN Women, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) |
| Animal Rights NGOs | PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), World Animal Protection |
| Cultural NGOs | UNESCO, National Trust for Historic Preservation |
| Advocacy and Lobbying NGOs | Transparency International, Human Rights Campaign |
| Research and Policy NGOs | Brookings Institution, Center for Global Development |
| Social Services NGOs | Save the Children, International Rescue Committee |
| Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) | Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Kibera Community Development Agenda (KCODA) |
| Nonprofit Organizations | The Salvation Army, Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World) |
| Trusts | Tata Trusts, Ford Foundation |
| Foundations | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation |
| Associations | American Cancer Society, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) |
| Cooperatives | Fair Trade Certified, Organic Valley |
| International NGOs (INGOs) | World Food Programme (WFP), Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) |
| Advocacy Organizations | Human Rights Campaign, Greenpeace |
| Social Enterprises | Grameen Bank, TOMS Shoes |
| Professional Associations | American Bar Association, World Medical Association |
| Religious NGOs | World Vision, Islamic Relief Worldwide |
| Government-Organized NGOs (GONGOs) | China Association for NGO Cooperation (CANGO), Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) |
Please note that the list is not exhaustive, and there are many more NGOs globally, each contributing to different causes and sectors.
Understanding the legal structure and mandates of NGOs is crucial for effective governance, accountability, and compliance with local regulations. The specific legal framework can vary significantly from country to country, shaping the way NGOs operate and fulfill their missions.
References
Bebbington, A. J., Hickey, S., & Mitlin, D. C. (Eds.). (2008). Can NGOs make a difference?: the challenge of development alternatives. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Clarke, G. (1998). Non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) and politics in the developing world. Political studies, 46(1), 36-52.
Dehalwar, K. The Slums of Bhopal: A Tale of Struggle and Resilience.
Ebrahim, A. (2003). Accountability in practice: Mechanisms for NGOs. World development, 31(5), 813-829.
Mercer, C. (2002). NGOs, civil society and democratization: a critical review of the literature. Progress in development studies, 2(1), 5-22.
Mitlin, D., Hickey, S., & Bebbington, A. (2007). Reclaiming development? NGOs and the challenge of alternatives. World development, 35(10), 1699-1720.
Raustiala, K. (1997). States, NGOs, and international environmental institutions. International Studies Quarterly, 41(4), 719-740.
Sharma, S. N. (2014). Fate of Rural Sanitation Scheme. International Journal of Research (IJR), 1(2).
Sharma, S. N. The Complex Reality of Delhi’s Slums: A Closer Look at Urban Informality.
Track2Training 
You must be logged in to post a comment.