Types of NGOs based on Legal Mandates and Constitution

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:

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  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Cooperatives:
    • Constitution: Governed by cooperative bylaws.
    • Legal Mandate: Formed by individuals with shared economic goals, emphasizing democratic ownership and control.
  7. 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.
  8. Advocacy Organizations:
    • Constitution: Emphasizes advocacy goals in its founding documents.
    • Legal Mandate: Focuses on influencing policies and legislation to promote specific causes or interests.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. Religious NGOs:
    • Constitution: Guided by religious principles or doctrines.
    • Legal Mandate: Operates based on religious beliefs, providing charitable services and community support.
  12. 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 NGOExamples
Human Rights NGOsAmnesty International, Human Rights Watch
Environmental NGOsGreenpeace, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Health NGOsMédecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), Partners In Health
Development NGOsOxfam, CARE International
Education NGOsTeach For All, Room to Read
Emergency Relief NGOsInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World)
Gender and Women’s Rights NGOsUN Women, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
Animal Rights NGOsPETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), World Animal Protection
Cultural NGOsUNESCO, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Advocacy and Lobbying NGOsTransparency International, Human Rights Campaign
Research and Policy NGOsBrookings Institution, Center for Global Development
Social Services NGOsSave the Children, International Rescue Committee
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Kibera Community Development Agenda (KCODA)
Nonprofit OrganizationsThe Salvation Army, Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World)
TrustsTata Trusts, Ford Foundation
FoundationsBill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation
AssociationsAmerican Cancer Society, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
CooperativesFair Trade Certified, Organic Valley
International NGOs (INGOs)World Food Programme (WFP), Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
Advocacy OrganizationsHuman Rights Campaign, Greenpeace
Social EnterprisesGrameen Bank, TOMS Shoes
Professional AssociationsAmerican Bar Association, World Medical Association
Religious NGOsWorld 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 studies46(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 development31(5), 813-829.

Mercer, C. (2002). NGOs, civil society and democratization: a critical review of the literature. Progress in development studies2(1), 5-22.

Mitlin, D., Hickey, S., & Bebbington, A. (2007). Reclaiming development? NGOs and the challenge of alternatives. World development35(10), 1699-1720.

Raustiala, K. (1997). States, NGOs, and international environmental institutions. International Studies Quarterly41(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.

Best Ngos in India

NGOs or Non-governmental organizations Are organizations that are generally formed outside the government so as to be independent. NGO as an organization is aimed at the welfare of society. NGOs do much social work such as housing for widowed women, teaching poor orphans, protecting women. They can be big or small, have government funding or million-dollar budgets, or run-on volunteers’ time. Some NGOs specialize in promoting gender equality or saving rainforests.

With their efforts in the last few decades, Non-Governmental Organizations have grown and strengthened in India. Only a few of them, however, have had an impact on society, and some are still hard at work and serving their communities. Although our nation is rife with problems, the level of corruption and transparency is low. Several Indian NGOs have reached a certain level, and some want to expand their efforts to a larger Indian community. In the article, we are provided with detailed information about the top NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) in India, their work for India’s society, as well as their ideals. They will provide comprehensive information about NGOs and how they can achieve success.

Some of the best NGOs in India are-

  1. Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is a non-profit organization based in New Delhi, India. The company was founded in 2002 by Santanu Mishra and operated in 25 states. Since 2017, the Foundation has reached more than 4 lakh children and their families. Smile Foundation for Education in India was dedicated to promoting education among underprivileged children. They have integrated education, health, livelihood, and inclusion of women and children equally in their development program. His programs include Smile on Wheels, Mission Education, and Smile Twin e-learning.

  • Nanhi Kali

Founded in India in 1992, Nanhi Kali supports the education of underprivileged girls. Anand Mahindra founded it in 1996. It is jointly managed by the Naandi Foundation and the KC Mahindra Education Trust, part of the Mahindra Group’s corporate social responsibility initiatives. In the long run, Project Nani Kali educated girls and women to positively influence India. “We wanted to raise global awareness about young girls in the country who have been deprived of basic rights,” Sheetal Mehta, chairman of the non-profit organization, said in an interview with the Daily News and Analysis.

  • Give India Foundation

GiveIndia is a not-for-profit organization in India. Through this platform, trustworthy non-governmental organizations throughout India can receive funding and resources through online donation channels. Through its web portal, it allows individuals worldwide to donate funds and contributions and send those funds to trusted NGOs in India.

  • Goonj

The non-governmental organization Goonj is based in Delhi, India. The organization works in 23 states of India, providing emergency relief, humanitarian aid, and community development services. Echo focuses on clothing as a basic but unheard-of need. The company was founded by Anshu Gupta in 1999. The Ramon Magsaysay Award was given to him for his work with Goonj in 2015. In 2012, Schwab Foundation, a partner organization of the World Economic Forum, named him the Social Entrepreneur of the Year. Goonj has grown from 67 garments to over 3500 tonnes of material every year. In order to qualify for foreign contribution exemption, it is registered under the Societies Act and Sections 80G, 12B, and FCRA.

The Joys of Volunteering

Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual of doing some work for the society as community service. It may include different forms of work. Some volunteers are specially trained in a particular field while some offer to help and join hands for a good cause freely. Volunteering has different sectors like medical, disaster management, education and upliftment of community. There are several NGOs and organisations which offer volunteering opportunities.

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It can help you to make new friends, advance your career, and feel better. Taking some time out of our busy schedules and finding time for volunteering can be difficult for some of us. But you can start small for the sake of trying it out. Volunteering lets you help and reach out to people from different backgrounds and create social change in your own little way. It provides vital help to individuals and gives you a chance to make lives better. Surely it makes people’s lives better but it gives you greater benefits. Give a little time to volunteering and you will get a lot in return!

It helps you feel happier and healthier. Once you start volunteering, you will meet a lot of new people from different communities. Working with underprivileged communities makes us more aware of our surroundings and feel grateful about our own lives. Also, when you start doing something new it gives you a fresh start and brightens your mood. Most of us love doing new things. Volunteering will also help you spend some quality time outside of work. It will bring both fun and fulfillment to your life. It will help you combat better with issues of mental health like depression and anxiety. It will also improve your mood and give you immense joy. Seeing the smile on the face of a child will surely brighten your day.

You will meet a lot of new people. Your fellow volunteers will either be from similar fields as yours, which will definitely be a positive side or they will be from completely different walks of life giving you a chance to know about a lot of new things. If you are a person who struggles with making new friends, it is a great opportunity for you to start new friendships. Once you start working as a team with others, you will share your ideas and share responsibilities for carrying out a task. While working and planning together it is most likely that you will become great friends. This will also make you a more social person and increase your communication skills. Volunteering helps you to network with a lot of people. Especially if your career path values societal issues, it will be really helpful for you to meet important people and make connections.

Lastly it will help you enhance your career prospects. Almost all companies or educational institutions value a volunteering experience. They will be glad to know that you have been a part of something so meaningful. Volunteering increases your chances of getting selected and helps you improve your resume. It will also give you experience of working with a team and make you a more empathetic and responsible person.

How NGOs can help in improving the lives of Poor

Introduction:

While a country’s government can advance economically by improving the infrastructure and industrial development, accomplishing socio-economic development warrants Civil Society active engagement. Non-governmental organizations play a significant role in filling the void in the various government-executed socio-economic development schemes. Moving right in the centre of communities and through informative research, NGOs will ensure that India ‘s poorest people experience sustained growth and access to education and employment and critical services. This helps to ensure that economic growth benefits reach the tiniest denominator.

10 NGOs rejuvenating education in India - GiveIndia's Blog

Non-governmental organizations or NGOs have now become an increasingly relevant motif in countries of the third world as well as in the social business world. India denotes no exception. The NGOs have popped up as the messiah of countless people without food, clothing, education and basic facilities for health care. India is one of the top 13 least-favoured countries. With history of being the most heavily populated nation on earth and poor expertise in manpower, India faces a monumental task in meeting her ever-increasing population ‘s demand. Consequently, NGOs in India can continue to play the role of precursor in achieving sustainable growth and development provided that there is a lasting, comfortable and reliable relationship between the government and NGOs where both work for the benefit of people with different activities. Their main responsibilities are to organize these people, to raise public awareness within them and to make them oriented towards development. These organizations work on the basis of the needs and demand adjudicated by the farmers and women at the grass root level.

NGOs can help in ensuring that India sees poverty eradication, sustained development and the downtrodden empowerment in several ways.

  1. Leading the Fight for Sustainable Development

NGOs continuously campaigned for sustainable development. They provide government organizations with data-driven support, and they also empower local communities to move towards a sustainable way of living. The aim is to help the present communities evolve and succeed, without compromising the growth opportunities of future generations. By donating to NGOs you empower them to take up the cause of the Indian society’s most marginalized sections. Civil society leverages the support earned to push social movements and place pressure on businesses and governments and work sustainably.

  • Poverty Attenuation:

While the country has experienced substantial economic progression over the past two and a half decades, access to clean drinking water, sanitation , quality education , health care, housing, and nutrition are essential to allow India’s 260 million people to leave a life of poverty behind. To end the factors that cause poverty, NGOs run major research, awareness-raising, and growth programmes. Beyond that, they carry out projects on-ground to empower societies. Many children centric NGOs such as Child Rights and You, Teach for India, Save the Children etc. for example, works to provide education for the most vulnerable children in India with the goal of helping them to march forward in life. Similarly, poor toddlers are undergoing health and nutrition projects so they can lead a happy and healthy childhood.

  • Empowering children:

In any nation, children are the future. Healthy and peaceful children of today have grown up to become tomorrow’s mature, held accountable and educated adults, and can contribute much better to the process of nation building. Prominent Children centric NGOs carries out campaigns and projects across India to ensure for the safety, and health of the poorest and most deprived children and make provisions for them to get quality and holistic education.

Organizations such as CRY,TFI etc. are also doing some cutting-edge grassroots research in slums, tribal areas and remote villages when they go to help children in the midst of India’s most marginalized communities. It is absolutely essential that our society gives children their share, respects their rights and supports them and gives them a satisfying childhood. This will go a long way towards achieving genuine development.

Conclusion:

Scholars now think of NGOs as non-state actors in the field of international relations (a category that may also include multinational corporations). This concept reflects the growing presence of NGOs in the foreign policy arena where only States had previously played a significant role. The former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, has called them “the conscience of humanity” and the World Bank and other UN agencies have consulted professional NGOs on related issues before adopting policies and drafting treaties. Its role will surely expand as global governance becomes more multicultural and less confined to state-based structures. It will continue to be a beacon enlightening the way forward as the world emerges to confront fresh problems.

NGOs can play a significant role in shaping the society for future generations. They may be the force that directs the political discussion to achieving equity and sustainable growth. Over the past 2 decades. NGOs can help bring about a systemic shift in India’s socioeconomic landscape with their rich knowledge in bringing about a change in the lives of backward communities and an experience in campaigning for their (backward communities’) cause. Donate today to charity to play your part in India’s development.