You often hear about NGOs on TV mostly as part of news. NGO stands for non-governmental organization. It is an organization where the citizens of a particular country will gather to work on a particular issue in their society, country or the world. The purpose of starting such an organization can be to put an end to the problem that the NGO is going to target or to help people who are victims of a particular problem in the society. This organization is non-profit in nature and so it runs on funds, donations and grants from various sources.
NGOs are started by people who have this passion in them to help the people in the world against some particular problem or evil in the society. Their passion for helping others is so great that they will even think of quitting their jobs. However, starting an NGO needs some work to be done. Furthermore, you will need a team with you that shares your opinions, vision and the mission. Here are some useful tips that should help you greatly before you lay the foundation of your own NGO:
Test Yourself First
The first thing is to test yourself to see if you are really permanently passionate about doing what you are thinking of doing. You will see individuals who want to sacrifice their lives for a particular cause but you won’t be able to find them after only a few months. The best way to go about this is to join an organization that works on the issue that you are about to start your organization for. Work there for a few months or years and see if your passion remains as high as it always was. If it goes down with time you did not have to start an NGO in the first place.
Be Clear On Your Cause
You have to very carefully pick the cause that you want to start your NGO for. Some ideas can be ambiguous and so your main cause for starting an NGO might not become clear to people. For example, you need to be clear if you want to start an NGO to help the drug addicts or put an end to certain drug addiction in people of a particular age group. Be very clear about the cause you are going to work for. You could take the example of Safer Gaming, an NGO working to put an end to gambling addiction in people. Now, their strategies and action plans will be completely different from what they are now if their primary focus was on putting an end to gambling rather helping people getting addicted to it.
Be A True Leader
A true leader makes plans, creates a team and then makes sure everything is executed to perfection despite all the hardships. However, a leader does not have to be running after fame. If you are a true leader you will work for the organization, for people in need and those who want to join you in your mission rather than making everything your own. People would name their organizations after themselves and then make directors, HR professionals, accountants, bookkeepers all from their families and friends.
The Registration Process
When you raise your voice against a certain oppression or loophole in the society you should be readily allowed to take your actions. However, that’s not the case when it comes to starting an NGO. You have to prepare the documentation to have your NGO registered with the government or whatever methods there are available in your country for an NGO’s registration. In some countries this process can be extremely difficult and costly as lawyers have to be involved in the process too. The best way to skip this difficult phase is to take help from an NGO that is already recognized. Ask them make you a part of them and this should help you a great deal.
Make A Plan
Everyone who has worked with startups and helped NGOs start believes that having a plan and course of action is extremely important for any NGO. You want to make sure that you can follow a path that you have set for yourself and after some months you can assess your progress. If you don’t have a plan you will never have any targets and you won’t know if you are actually going in the direction that you should be going in. Lastly, you will need a strong plan to present to volunteers who are interested in donating for your NGO.
Collecting Grants and Funds
You will have to do efforts get the required funds and grants. As mentioned earlier, if you have become a part of an existing NGO you will not have any problems in receiving funds and grants. You will have to find ways to make your voice reach the people and collect funds from them. To collect funds and get grants you will have to be friends with other NGOs working in your community. You will have increase your network as much as you can because it is through networking that you will get access to people who can help you get your NGO funded. Appear on media because this is going to give you some exposure to the people who might help you a great deal with your cause.
Online Presence
You need online presence no matter what type of business or organization you have. Google offers free services to help non-profit organizations have their ads appear on its result pages. There are a handful of websites that can help you get your website hosted for no price. Make sure you create some social networking pages where not only can you share the experiences, achievements and works of your organization but also get volunteers to know you and help you with your causes. Keep your website interactive so people interested in contributing with you can get access to you easily. Have a big donate button located on your website too.
