Photo by Ryan Libre .
Ryan Libre explains how to start a successful NGO with style and zen.
I’ve worked with NGOs for most of my life, and even helped start a few. Now, I’m venturing out to start my own NGO, Documentary Arts, Asia.
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.
Photo by Ryan Libre .
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.
Photo by Ryan Libre .
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
Matador’s Grassroots NGO network
Step 9: Find balance.
Photo by Ryan Libre .
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.
Conclusions
Any volunteer experience can be rewarding. Starting your own NGO can make you feel totally fulfilled.
You will learn and grow as an individual and receive a profound sense of satisfaction not easily found in modern life.
I hope my insights, experiences and mistakes were of benefit. If you have any questions or comments please post them in the comments and I’ll be happy to reply.
Don’t forget to check out my blossoming NGO: Documentary Arts, Asia
Community Connection
For a list of great NGOs and organizations, check out Matador’s searchable database of orgs.
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49 Comments... join the discussion!
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Great advice, Ryan.
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Another great NGO in Cambodia is Sustainable Cambodia, in Pursat province. http://www.sustainablecambodia.org/
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Ryan- Really liked this article and found it super useful. Good luck with your NGO!
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New to this; what's an NGO? Please explain a little.
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NGO stands for non governmental organization. It can be anything from the major international charitable organizations like the Red Cross or Doctors without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontiers) or small local organizations rn entirely by volunteers.
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I want to start any NGO if any NGO want open branch in INDIA so can contact to me and,also have you any NGO ,then I will try to contact him if you suggetion me in INDIA may be in RAJASTHAN state and near that. THANKS
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i want to start an ngo in my immediate environment with a group of students in my department but i have been taking my time to plan because it has to deal with helping children in public schools by giving them extra classes, helping them in their school work and teaching them etiquettes and dveloping their talents and also involving students in the university that can afford to help these kids finacially. i really need advice because ngos are not easy to come by in my vicinity. would be greatful if you could help.
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thanks 4 u r help..I want to start my own ngo in the hills of Kumoun in uttrakhand. (India)..i have a passon for my environment . So i am in search of a person who can initialy help me out with my financial condition… Any NGO or a friend in or outside India wants to work with me..or someone intrested in Openig a NGO can contact me. on my mob. no 9911912711
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I want commence a NGO to help the needy famillies of the Ampara Eastern Range of Sri Lanaka who are suffering from various pathetic situation as being they are very poor from their birth. Actually they have no shelter, enough foods, medicines and no money to educate their children. Please be good enough grant me your support that you can give, to begin this programme. My email adress is aluthgamahewage@yahoo.com and my mobile phone number is 0714418350
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pse give more details
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want help to start NGO for animal welfare (aged home for pedigree canines)
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hi my name is walid popal. i want ot start my own ngo in afghanistan for orphan kids and refugee returnees from nieboring countries pakistan and iran . these poor people live in these wet tents in these cold winters.i need your help please . thanks,
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hmmm,nice help fr those who wants to start an NGO like me .my self gurcharan singh from kanpur, up. wants to establish a mobile van unit (ambulance).any one wants to help in this regards ,is most welcome by me..9415125604,,gcsingh2001@yahoo.co.in
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what should i name my NGO , its aim is to educate homeless children.in Pakistan
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Hi.I am planing to establish an Intl NGO which deals in relief works in disaster zones around the world.I would like to know how to create funds for the NGO,how to attract donors and what to look for in dedicated workers.
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god sent me on earth for helpinng ,serving the people who spend life ubnormal, anyone organisation want totake my service plz order me iwill be avl at any time
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i want to start an NGO to help the less priviledge to provide food,water and financial assistance.i am from nigeria and i will want to start from here but never to end here.i am a world changer.i dont care about the age..i just want to be a contribution to as many people as i can.with the help of God i am passionately and desperately willing to affect lives positively.i see little children hawking wares instead of learning in school it breaks my heart.i see people struggling to survive i.e to eat and clothe not even to be comfortable but just to survive..i must touch lives..i must bring light to peoples dark situations.God has blessed me i MUST be a blessing to many.so help me God.
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hi i already running an ngo and working on healthy n organic food commodities in uttrakhand anindia if anybody wants to join hands with us acrosss the state n country even abroad is most welcome .We are on a mission on health and wellness. People n doaners across the world are welcome.
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Feel free to contact at nos 9897912768,9411171991,9917458955
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thanx alot ryan…i'm sure your advice will go a long way in helping my friends and i start an NGO.wish us luck and all thebest in yours.
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Hi, I am living in Saldanha , West Coast of South Africa .I want to start a NGO for social development for the Youth and a centre for abused women and children. Currently the youth is the bait for Druglords . My main objectives are : Youth projects; Sport Clubs, Theatre , Dance Competitions, Music. Councilling Centre, Public Park, Swimming Pool. Could you please give me some advise and guidlines. Verna
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hi kamal This is sanjeev i m running a NGO for Education if intrested than conatct me on my cell & email my no is 9815557544. email: risingstarsc@gmail.com
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Hi Naomi, I feel exactly the way you do. God has put in my heart, years ago the caring for children and elderly in need. I started the process for an NGO. Your are welcome to find out more about it. You can reach me at my email address. G_d bless you.
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Hi Verna……..I am with you……….not financially but yes physically……..i want to be part of u r NGO
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Ryan’s listing of the steps to start an NGO is very comprehensive and simple. I would just like to suggest those people who intend to start establishing NGOs to come up with a sustainability plan. Although resource mobilization can be particularly challenging, start-ups can still raise small donations at individual-level to run their activities and maybe in a year or two they can be qualified to receive large grants from big organizations. But NGOs also need to be creative enough to visualize their organization in the coming 10 or 15 or 20 years. Where will the resources come then? This can lead to developing of a sustainability plan.
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hi anurag,im also interested 2 do something 4 uttarakhand specially for its environment.can u also give me more information regarding ur ngo.u can reach me on mail-id.goodbye
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Hi, i am from northeast part of India. i want to start a new organization where i can help my villagers. in our village there is no hospital, no proper transportation no proper electricity and the main problem is that here is no help from Government side. The main resource in this village is farming of rice but we are facing lots of natural problem. I want help them in farming with technically support.So they can increase their productivity. Want to give them proper medical facility so they can live healthy. waiting for your help…!
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Thanks Ryan. I am from Sikkim, an extreme north east side of India next to Tibet. I want to start an NGO here to help the homeless/orphans on their education, health and shelter. If there is any international NGO’s willing to tie up with me and my State, please contact me at sandhyapant.hcl@gmail.com.
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thanks for the great advice. it has indeed helped to spur me on.
i am a nephrologist in training and by burning passion is to set up an NGO that will support patients who are living with chronic kidney disease.
it is a chronic medical illness that it quite common world wide, but unfortunately the cost of medical care is beyond the reach of majority of its sufferers in my country.
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Great article. This is straight-forward and solid advice.
I also found idealist to be one of the best sites on development issues and opportunities.
Another great site is Mango in the UK: http://www.mango.co.uk a registered charity providing support in financial management to NGOs
I found a brilliant resource: How to Build a Good Small NGO that was partly authored by Mango at http://www.networklearning.org It’s 79 pages of advice that you’re better off having before you start out.
Having volunteered and worked for NGOs in developing countries, I think it would be doing a disservice to yourself and target communities if you don’t spend time volunteering or interning with an organisation in your field and geographic location of interest. You will learn if you’re cut out for the work and if the work itself is what you envisage it to be.
I’ve noticed that many graduates want to jump straight into an NGO fresh from college or university. I do think it’s smarter to get experience in business (because managing an NGO requires the same skills and experience as managing a small business, but with about 1000 more unforeseen obstacles–working while suffering from malaria and with no electricity, for example) or a large well-organised NGO before embarking on their own enterprise.
You will get the benefit of their experience, you will make invaluable connections, and you will learn about systems and processes that you can transfer to your own organisation.
I have seen several small NGOs suffer from simple lack of experience and planning. It’s a shame because people have their heart in the right place.
On the flipside, I have met several former business people who had no NGO experience but contributed invaluable know-how and skills to their respective NGOs; they had a lot of experience to draw on.
The NGO I initially volunteered with and later worked for (www.globalmamas.org and http://www.womeninprogress.org) was founded by two people who had MBAs in business and IT and spent years working for the best NGOs or multinational corporations before embarking on their own. Even so, it was a struggle.
And while you’re getting this experience you have the luxury (which you won’t have once you get started) to plan. And that planning–financial and strategic–is the single most important thing you can do. Experience, plan, patience and hard work.
Again, great advice in this article.
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Hi to everybody. I am a lawyer who has formed a team with other lawyers and professionals and am looking to form an Ngo in delhi and work for the upliftment of society on the whole. The idea of statrting an Ngo has been lingering in my head for quite some time now but it just did not happen. This time though, i am all into it and am working quite hard to start one. The article has been a really good guide for a beginner .
Thanks for putting all the information that you have on this website.
Thanking You
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Hi…im Tini from Sarawak, Malaysia. Im very interested to involved in NGO because it is the only ways for me to speak up & educated my people, my races “Iban”. In Sarawak, especially in rural area all this people is lack & less of accommodation & education. Here, with hope, for those NGO whose have a links or contact in Malaysia especially may give me a chance as volunteer or assist me in whatever way so that i my fullfill my dreams to help my people. Thank you.
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Hi
Happy to have tips for successful NGO because i want to start an NGO in my community (ilchamus, kenya) there is really a need to educate my people the negatives of FGM and no local NGO which works for that hope to hear more from you via e-mail↵ -
Great Work Ryan…
I am also planning to start an NGO in the field of education..
basically to mentor the potential but financially weak leaders in India..and to provide them higher education inline with the facilities of respective cities..exposing them to the problems of society and letting them to come with a solution to the problem..
i have started working on the idea and wish to pursue on the same..
i admire your great photo graphical skills..and extend thanks for your work..↵ -
HI the tips will defenetly helps us to open a ngo as we are planning to open an NGO in the field of global warmirng and i need helps regarding that.
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am happy to find these tips from this site. am currently developing a proposal for funding to start a new NGO in my rural home, to make the community members especially the youths to be empowered. anybody who can help me get a sponsor or donor is highly welcomed. any other comment is also welcomed through my email adress: kenouma2005@yahoo.com. am from kenya
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hi Hi…im Gautam from Guwahati, Assam. Im very interested to starting NGO because it is the only ways for me to help street children ,people, education. Here, with hope, for those NGO whose have a links or contact especially may give me a chance as volunteer or assist me in whatever way so that i fullfill my dreams to help my people. Thank you.
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hi, does anyone know NGOs in egypt?
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I am interested to start a ngo. The article has given me good tips.am happy to find these tips from this site. am currently developing a proposal to start a new NGO for the rehabilitation of older people. anybody who can help me get a sponsor or donor is highly welcomed. any other comment is also welcomed through my email adress: ramp2009.pantnagar@gmail.com
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I appreciate the tips thank you so much for the post.
This NGO is a midwifery training and birth center for rural women providing comprehensive sexual / reproductive health education, prenatal, birth and post partum midwifery services, through a collaborative, intercultural approach. This center will provide low cost services to people that need it. The goal is to get the local midwives trained along side of midwives that come to volunteer in all the above services so we eventually aren’t needed or are just there as more of a resource center for them. The goal is to decrease the mortality rate here in Guatemala, Solola region. This is a new project and would welcome any help advise that someone may have. Thank youI
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Thanks for the information on how to go about starting an NGO. I want to start my own NGO, to work with hurting people as a result of abuse, rejection, affliction and neglect,through prayer and spiritual counseling so as to uplife the mass inorder for them to bring in the masses. I will like you to help me through this process.Just as you said in step 7, I found and established NGO and they told me it is not posible to have my ministry under their umberalla with a different name. They want me to be under their umberala as a part of their program. I need help to understance what to do? Thanks.
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RYAN,
YOU TIPS WERE GREAT. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU THAT MONEY IS NOT
THE ONLY WAY TO DO SOCIAL WORK. ALL OUR WORK STARTED WITH VERY LITTLE MONEY.
EVEN TODAY WE DO A LOT OF WORK WHICH DOESNOT INVOLVE MONEY.
WANTING TO HELP AND FEELING FOR OTHERS WILL TAKE US A LONG WAY IN DOING SOLID WORK.
THANKS AGAIN
BEST WISHES
VANITHA
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Hi everyone!
Now that the war in Sri Lanka is over, we need to reach out to those who are without food, shelter and clothing and needing medical attention.
My wish was to always set up an NGO to reach to those as mentioined above, and I would appreciate if you could please link me with an NGO who would be willing to finance and we proceed in a very transparent manner.
Look forward and God bless.
Best,
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I.m kate morka , graduate of the nigerian law school, currently undergoing training in greece, on masters level in international hospitality and tourism leadership., i.m a nigerian citizen and upon visiti to various european countries , i have been able to see an amazing number of , women and girls from africa and other impoverished european countries , engaging in full time prostitution , both in broad day light and at night, thereby creating an inevitable self destruction . i.m moved by this and i would like to commit my time to fighting this act considerably, . but, how may i start, what is required of me. please comment.
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I am planning to start community work in the area of Enviornment protection in Uttrakhand as the hill station is getting filled with plastic bags and other filth. Rivers have started drying up. If no corrective steps are taken right away the end is very near. I welcome any foreign body to join and help to make a start.
Contact at : dspokharia@yahoo.com
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Hi,
I always have a passion to work for ngo and upgrade rural education and develpoment so i need help from some foreign body who come up and join hands for a great cause….it will be a pleasure if somebody come up…Rakshit Dixit
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Hi,I am planning to open an NGO in India to make world green to make awareness for today’s global warming .I am ready with all the plan with team. looking for gidence.If any one ready to help in any means you are most well come. I am located at Mumbai.
Fell free to mail: rayanupam2003@yahoo.com
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Hello. Thank you for the good advice you have given us. I opened an NGO with two partners in Uganda and it was a success. I now want to do something to help the blind people in war affected areas of uganda. Using ICTs to help teach the disabled the importance of intergrating ICTs in what they do.
I wanted to start an innitiative on HIV but after reading, i found out it is better to do something i have been doing for years now.
Please advise me on how to start and networking with other NGOs internationally.↵
