HOW TO
START
AN
NGO




HOW TO START AN NGO

HOW TO START A SUCCESSFUL NGO IN 10 STEPS

HOW TO CREATE AN NGO

HOW TO FORM AN NGO

HOW TO FORM AN NGO RELATED TOPICS

HOW TO START AN NGO LINKS



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SECTION 1



HOW TO
START
AN
NGO




Starting an NGO can be a very time-consuming process. It requires a strong vision and
dedication from an individual or group that share a common concern about a community. If
initiated correctly in an organized and strategic way, the services implemented to benefit the
community can be very helpful and resourceful.
The following presents ten steps, in general chronological order, that are useful in the
formation of an NGO. This paper acts as a broad “how to” guideline and these issues may vary
depending on each NGO. It is important to realize that these situations also vary from country to
country, as each one has its own specific requirements and recommendations.


1. Establish Purpose/Vision/Goals

2. Establish an Initial Board of Directors

3. Seek Legal Expertise

4. Chose a Name

5. Write Articles of Incorporation

6. Draft Bylaws

7. Register the Organization

8. Hold an Initial Board of Directors Meeting

9. Set Up An Accounting System

10. Come Up With a Fundraising Plan



Additional Steps


Once the previous ten steps have been completed, the foundation of an NGO has essentially been
established. There are only a few miscellaneous tasks that must be completed before the NGO
can fully operate.


Some of these include:


Hiring staff and volunteers

Reaching out and becoming known in the community

Seeking office supplies (furniture, computers, machinery)

Insuring the NGO

Holding orientation.


After this point program activities can be discussed and implemented. It may take about a
year before these prove to be successful. Finally, at the end of the first year, it is important to
review the mission, goals, and vision to make sure the NGO has stayed on track. Critiquing
programs and activities to see what can stay or be changed is also beneficial.



HOW TO START A NGO
http://www.wango.org/NGONews/July08/HowToStartAnNGO.pdf



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SECTION 2



HOW TO
START A
SUCCESSFUL
NGO
IN
10
STEPS




First, you need to do something, anything, yourself with what is
locally available (step 1). It will give you experience,
credibility, and maybe even publicity. Start small and do what
you can for a few months with what you have.

After this experience your goals and how to reach them will be more
clear (step 3) and you can make an action plan (step 4) and a website
or free blog (step 5) showing what you have done and a clear plan for
what you intend to do.

Then when you leave a comment or send a mail about your NGO include
the link. Without these fundamental steps it is unlikely anyone will
seriously consider funding your NGO.


The following steps will help get your own NGO up and running:



Step 1: Test the waters.

Many new activists are ready to commit their lives to “the cause.”
Some are even willing to die for it. Most of these enthusiastic
newbies are nowhere to be found a few months later.

There’s no need to turn down the volume of your enthusiasm, but
before starting your own NGO, consider joining one that does
similar work for a while.

If starting your own NGO really is right for you, the experience
of working for an established NGO will only strengthen your
resolve and direct your passion.

Maybe you’ll find that NGOs are not your life calling after all.
Better to learn that early on, before making a big commitment.



Step 2: Start on the right foot.

“The leader’s main job is to make themselves obsolete.” –Lao Tsu

Becoming obsolete should be the fundamental goal of all NGOs. You
must constantly strive to work yourself out of a job.

Becoming obsolete works on two levels. In terms of your personal
involvement, you should build the NGO to the point where it can
function independently of your leadership. The long term goal of
your NGO should be to solve a problem and thereby become
unnecessary.

Put Lao Tsu’s advice into practice and you’ll be able to help more
people in more profound ways, and enjoy every minute of the
experience. If you try to maintain control, dependencies will
develop, and once dependencies start they are hard to stop.

Dependency can leave NGO volunteers feeling trapped and sometimes
even leave negative impacts on the people you are trying so hard
to help.



Step 3: Clarify your goals.

Set clear and achievable goals for yourself and the NGO.

“Ending world hunger” is a great goal and looks good on your NGO’s
t-shirt, but it’s not a problem you can seriously hope to solve.

Finding a niche is good place to start. Positive change usually
comes from picking something small, doing it well and following
through. A good example of this attitude in action is the Starfish
NGO of Cambodia.



Step 4: Make an action plan.

A plan of action is your chance to make an NGO effective, address
any potential negative impacts and make sure your NGO will attract
donors and volunteers.

Make sure you are able to follow through with what you start. Think
hard about your action plan. Hard work is important, but hard work
without a good plan is a waste of time and money.



Step 5: Make a website.

It’s never too early to make a website for your NGO. A good website
helps you to spread the word, attract volunteers, secure funding and
establish a professional appearance. An interactive website can also
minimize your need for meetings and micro managing.

Attention spans on the web are very short. Be clear and concise.

Be sure to make an online profile for your NGO at Matador, where you
can tap into a network of thousands of potential donors and volunteers.

Some hosting companies give free hosting to NGO sites. Ask around.



Step 6: Get in the know.

Local knowledge is indispensable to every NGO. Even if you grew up in
the city where you want to start an NGO, you still need to research
and make contacts. Making solid local contacts and understanding the
locals’ worldview is especially important if you want to work in a
foreign culture.

Good use of local knowledge can really make an NGO effective. Without
local knowledge, you may do more harm than good.



Step 7: Assess your NGO’s financial needs.

Money, when it does come, usually requires great amounts of paperwork
and sometimes has strings attached. The quality of the work an NGO does
and the amount of its funding are often inversely related. That is to
say, the NGOs with less money do better work per hour and dollar spent.
The crucial point is to to minimize your NGO’s need for money.

That said, money can be really helpful sometimes. Here’s how to get it.
Filing for 501c (official non profit) status is a pain and involves
costly lawyer fees. No need to waste your efforts there.

Get an established NGO to accept you under its umbrella. Tax deductible
donations and grants will go to them, care of your NGO. Setting up this
arrangement could be as easy as a 30 minute talk with your local peace
center.

Now you are ready to ask for money from businesses, grant foundations,
and governments. A Paypal donate button is a quick and easy way to accept
donations from visitors to your website.



Step 8: Network, network, network.

Make friends with people and organizations doing similar work so that
you can learn from their successes and mistakes. Networking also helps
you to know when to team up and when to divide your efforts for maximum
effectiveness.

The links below are good places to start networking:




UNDP’s guide to NGO networking
http://www.impactalliance.org/ev02.php?ID=3004_201&ID2=DO_TOPIC

Idealist.org
http://www.idealist.org/

Matador’s Grassroots NGO network
http://matadortravel.com/search/organization



Step 9: Find balance.

Be realistic about how much time you want to give to your NGO.
Taking on projects beyond your comfortable limits won’t yield
much benefit in the long run.

You are worth more to your NGO as a part time activist for 5-20
years than letting your passionate burn out in two years. Finding
balance between work and personal life is key to success.



Step 10: Re-evaluate everything.

Take a step back and look at what you have done and where it is
all headed. Take joy in what you have accomplished, but also make
sure your NGO is not becoming self aggrandizing.

How much time, effort and money are being spent on the NGO itself?
This is the biggest problem facing all organizations, non-governmental
or otherwise.

Your own awareness is the best tool to avoid over-emphasizing the NGO
to the detriment of the cause, but don’t hesitate to ask someone from
outside of your NGO for an evaluation.

With constant awareness, you can keep your focus and resources flowing
to your original goals.



How to start a successful NGO in 10 steps
http://matadornetwork.com/change/how-to-start-a-successful-ngo-in-10-steps/



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SECTION 3



HOW TO
CREATE
AN
NGO




If you're filled with the desire to make a contribution to society and
want to do something to better the lives of others troubled by poverty,
disease, lack of education or any other social problem, there is a
practical way to channel your efforts. Get together with like-minded
people and establish a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).


1. Speak to people who are passionate about the same social causes as you.
Find out if they are willing to join hands with you to create an NGO. Make
a list of such persons and write down the amount of time each one can commit
to working for the organization. Also note the area of expertise that each
member brings to the NGO.

2. Hold a meeting to identify and finalize the purpose of your organization.
Define the social problems you plan to target. Keep your target community in
mind and prepare a written statement describing the vision and mission of
your NGO.

3. Hire a lawyer who specializes in the registration of organizations to help
with the legal aspects of establishing the NGO. As the person who mooted the
idea, you will be the Founder and the other people you recruit become the
Board of Directors.

4. Select a name for your NGO and design a logo, if you desire. Search your
local government database of organizational names and logos to ensure it is
not already taken.

5. Check your state government's guidelines and write the articles of
incorporation to give a legal description of the NGO. Have this approved
by the Board. Draft the bylaws to specify how you plan to administer the
NGO and set out rules to handle disputes that may arise. Get these
approved by the Board.

6. Complete the formalities to register your NGO in keeping with your lawyer's
guidelines. Submit all necessary documents , including your mission statement,
details of board members and staff members as well as the articles of
incorporation and bylaws.

7. Conduct an initial meeting of the Board of Directors after completion of the
registration process to officially accept the bylaws. Discuss the positions to
be occupied by members and designate committees to handle specific responsibilities.
Focus on setting up a credible and transparent accounting system because the
financial transactions of NGOs are generally subject to close scrutiny.

8. Put together a fundraising plan to raise funds for your activities. Outline how
you will approach individuals, corporate and community foundations, businesses and
religious groups for contributions.



How to Create an NGO
http://www.ehow.com/how_8444743_create-ngo.html



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SECTION 4



HOW TO
FORM
AN
NGO




A non-governmental organization is a non-profit, politically neutral
organization that works to support a specific cause. NGOs throughout
the world support a variety of causes -- there are no restrictions on
the type of cause they can support -- from promoting schooling for
young women to increasing environmental awareness. NGOs must receive
donations to survive. Forming an NGO takes commitment, organization,
clear goals and -- most importantly -- a dedication to the cause.



How to Form an NGO
http://www.ehow.com/how_8499934_form-ngo.html



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SECTION 5



HOW TO
FORM
AN
NGO
RELATED
TOPICS




How to Create an NGO
http://www.ehow.com/how_8444743_create-ngo.html

How to Establish Your Own NGO
http://www.ehow.com/how_12020480_establish-own-ngo.html

How to Register an NGO
http://www.ehow.com/how_8792304_register-ngo.html

How to Start an International NGO
http://www.ehow.com/how_10009507_start-international-ngo.html

How to Build an NGO
http://www.ehow.com/how_10027860_build-ngo.html

How to Design an NGO Website
http://www.ehow.com/how_12168316_design-ngo-website.html

Budget Basics for NGOs
http://www.ehow.com/info_8656040_budget-basics-ngos.html

How to Write Documentation for an NGO
http://www.ehow.com/how_8759753_write-documentation-ngo.html

How to Start an International NGO
http://www.ehow.com/how_10009507_start-international-ngo.html

How to Organize an NGO Launch
http://www.ehow.com/how_8561175_organize-ngo-launch.html

How to Organize an NGO
http://www.ehow.com/how_8459472_organize-ngo.html

Business Plan Reporting for NGOs for Social Development
http://www.ehow.com/way_5410963_business-reporting-ngos-social-development.html

How to Set Up a Nongovernmental Organization
http://www.ehow.com/how_135736_set-nongovernmental-organization.html

NGO Job Descriptions
http://www.ehow.com/about_6387704_ngo-job-descriptions.html

How to Design an NGO Website
http://www.ehow.com/how_12168316_design-ngo-website.html



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SECTION 6



HOW TO
START
AN
NGO
LINKS




HOW TO BUILD A GOOD SMALL NGO
http://www.humanitarianforum.org/data/files/resources/715/en/building_NGOs.pdf

How to Build a Good Small NGO
http://www.dochas.ie/pages/resources/documents/Good_Small_NGO_principles.pdf

How to Start an NGO
http://www.wango.org/NGONews/July08/HowToStartAnNGO.pdf

How to start a successful NGO in 10 steps
http://matadornetwork.com/change/how-to-start-a-successful-ngo-in-10-steps/

How to Start A Nonprofit
http://alliancefornevadanonprofits.com/resources/how-to-start-a-nonprofit/

How to Start a Nonprofit Organization
http://managementhelp.org/startingorganizations/start-nonprofit.htm

How to Start Your Own NGO
http://www.vergemagazine.com/work-abroad/118-saving-the-world-101-how-to-start-your-own-ngo

How to use the Social Media for raising funds for your NGO
http://www.fundsforngos.org/webinars/social-media-raising-funds-ngo/

NGOs – Non Govermental Organizations
http://www.nonprofitexpert.com/ngos-non-govermental-organizations/

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
http://www.belizeoffshoreinvestors.com/inv2b.html

Staring an NGO
http://www.gdrc.org/ngo/start-ngo/index.html

Starting an NGO
http://www.ngomanager.org/dcd/2_Organisational_Development/Starting_an_NGO/

Starting an NGO
http://ngos.org/starting-an-ngo/

Starting an NGO: Key Ingredients of an NGO
http://www.gdrc.org/ngo/start-ngo/startngo-2.html

Starting a Nonprofit or Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)
http://www.coyotecommunications.com/development/startingngo.shtml

Starting and Sustaining an NGO
http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/publication/2012/09/20120917136133.html#axzz38ozbp7Y8

STEPS TO START NGO
http://stepstostartngo.weebly.com/



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