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Some people are blessed with the power of humanity. They love to help others no matter whatever they have to pay for it. Good deeds fill you with internal satisfaction. This sense of satisfaction can never be bought. But volunteer efforts, time and money cannot make this world a better place. A single person would not be able to solve the problem of everyone but an organization or a team can.
Starting an NGO or a non-profit organization is a great initiative for giving back to society. But before moving on it is important to understand the term NGO.
WHAT IS AN NGO?
"Non-governmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, or nongovernment organizations, commonly referred to as NGOs, are usually non-profit and sometimes international organizations independent of governments and international governmental organizations (though often funded by governments) that are active in humanitarian, educational, health care, public policy, social, human rights, environmental, and other areas to effect changes according to their objectives."
source: wikipedia
NGO is an organization which works without profit for the public. This organization work day and night for solving the problems of society.
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Now, the question arises “how to start an NGO?”.
Starting an NGO is not a piece of cake; you have to think about each aspect carefully. You need to think that how your efforts can benefit the public. I am going to give a complete guide for starting an NGO. The steps are:
1. Write down the issues your NGO wants to address
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Before starting anything, we should be clear about our purpose. The motive of establishing an NGO must be crystal clear.
- Why is this NGO necessary?
- What is the basic cause behind this NGO?
- How it benefits the society?
All these questions must be answered first so that all the volunteers, the board of directors, staff, donors and public can understand the goals of the organization. Clear and achievable goals are more effective. Starting with small changes and following it through can create great impacts.
2. Make a plan
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After keeping in mind the goals of your NGO, it’s time for an effective plan. This plan must be efficient because it will make your organization effective and attracts donor and volunteers. Think deeply about your plan and start executing it. You need to work hard but hard work is pointless without a plan. Plan daily activities of your NGO so that step by step it gets better.
3. Name your organization
An organization name is really important because it reflects your cause and purpose. Select a unique name to which a common person can connect. It should be like a solution to the problem.
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4. Make a website
All of us are well familiar with the power of the internet. Make a website of your organization and connect with the world. The website will help you spread your organization. Volunteers and donors can also contact you with the help of this website. You don’t need to go for meeting and discussions rather everything is available on the website. But keep in mind:
- Be concise
- Be clear
- Be honest
- Don’t span
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5. Make contacts and get knowledge
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After making an organization, you need to research and make contacts to the useful people. Use your knowledge to captivate peoples towards your organization. Use different referrals and make solid contacts that will help you. Research each day for improving your organization.
6. Hire a legal representative
When we talk about non-profit organization, guidance and legal advice are vital. You can work alone for the organization but some facts are beyond you. You need some legal representative who can guide you for different things like taxes. An experienced adviser understands these matters and guides you through it. A legal adviser will keep a check on documentation, donors and taxes.
6. Financial need of the NGO
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Money is really an important part of an organization as everything is under it. Funding and donations are all must be documented first. An NGO has to minimize the need for money. It’s the responsibility of an organization to make better use of money. You can ask for donations from government and foundations.
7. Build your network
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Connect with more and more people and involve them in your work. Try to meet people in the same field so that you might be able to learn from them. Experienced people can help you resolve your mistakes. Make a team that works for the same cause. The website will help you building networks. Share your ideas with the friends and relatives so they also help you in that cause.
Following these steps will help you build an organization that works for a good cause. There is a different niche of NGO’s. Some of them are:
- Religious
- Educational
- Charitable
- Health-related etc.
How to raise funds for NGO?
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Collecting funds is the most important task for running an NGO. But how to raise funds?
Here are some tips that will help you in raising funds.
- Plan well, before starting an organization. Submit applications in advance to all the donors so that, at the end of the project you must have enough funds.
- Give a brief description to donors about how you will utilize their money. Telling donors about your success will create trust. You need to ensure the donor that their money will help in changing the lives of others.
- Besides sending them proposals, try to meet donors personally. Face to face meetings always helps in understanding donors. You can also get to know the interest of donor that will help you in your stance.
- Make good relations with your existing donors. Try to provide them ease so that they trust your organization. Inform them time to time about the achievements of the organization.
- Always say thanks to the donors for their help and support.
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You can also add features to your websites for donations. It will help all the online donors to access you.
These are some of the basic tips that you can use to raise funds. Using your communication skills and personal behaviour will help you a lot in uplifting your organization. Keep the trust of others and work honestly.
