Important
19.02.2024

What is an NGO?

NGO: Definition and meaning

NGO is the abbreviation for non-governmental organization and refers to a group of people who come together to pursue common interests and tackle problems in society.

The term "non-governmental organization" was introduced by the United Nations to distinguish civil society from state representatives. NGOs are organizations that operate independently of government control and are committed to social and environmental issues. Unlike state organizations, NGOs do not receive direct support or legitimacy from governments. Well-known international NGOs work in areas such as environmental protection, human rights, anti-corruption and new technologies.

Most important feature: Nonprofit

The most important characteristic of an NGO is that it is not allowed to distribute profits or surpluses to its members or owners. This is why these organizations are often referred to as non-profit organizations (NPO). The income is only used to cover costs. Many NGOs receive state subsidies if they take care of certain social tasks, such as running a kindergarten or organizing care services. Nevertheless, the acquisition of funds is one of the main tasks of the employees, in addition to positioning themselves in the public eye.

Some organizations (drivers' clubs, trade unions) are financed exclusively by membership fees, while other well-known NGOs such as Greenpeace or Amnesty International cover a large part of their costs with donations. Politically recognized institutions also receive funding from the EU or the state.

Diverse legal forms: Association, foundation, gGmbH

NGOs can take many different legal forms, including associations, foundations, cooperatives or non-profit limited liability companies. Their areas of activity cover all sectors of society, from supporting minorities to environmental and animal welfare work.

Over the past number of years, such organisations have played an increasingly important role worldwide. They expose social grievances, take a stand and care for marginalised groups that are exploited by those in power or overlooked by society.

More and more NGOs are aligning their activities with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Their aim is to contribute to the realization of these sustainability goals. To represent their concerns to national and international bodies, non-governmental organizations engage in lobbying and conduct campaigns aimed at exerting political pressure.

NGOs use various means such as social education, awareness-raising work, consultation and protest to represent their interests in politics. Although they advise governments and participate in the development of climate protection laws, for example, they still act independently of state institutions and governments.

Fields of action of NGOs

NGOs have different missions, but their aim is often to reduce suffering in the world, represent the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services or promote development projects. Here we have listed a few examples of NGO fields of action (you can find a complete list in our NGO directory):

Political influence without official means of power

Many NGOs operate internationally and have enormous political influence, such as the Red Cross or Médecins Sans Frontières, even though they do not officially have any state resources. They have direct access to the people who trust them and can offer help where state institutions are restricted, such as in crisis areas.

Growth of NGOs

In a world facing increasing challenges such as social injustice, environmental degradation and humanitarian crises, NGOs are becoming increasingly important. They fill gaps left by state institutions and offer innovative solutions to complex problems. NGOs strengthen civil society, promote international cooperation and exert pressure on governments and companies to take responsibility and bring about positive change.

Overall, NGOs play a crucial role in promoting social change, environmental protection and the realization of human rights worldwide. The number of NGOs is constantly growing, and with it the need for qualified employees.

NGOs in Austria, Germany and Switzerland

Throughout Europe, there are numerous organizations whose roots go back many centuries, such as the Johanniter-Unfallhilfe, an organization of the Order of St. John. In general, it can be said that the importance of NGOs in German-speaking countries is following the global trend.

Below you will find an overview of the situation in Austria, Germany and Switzerland:

NGOs in Austria

The first cooperatively organized associations were founded here based on the German model. The first Volksbank was founded as early as 1851, and a few years later, Austrians organized themselves into numerous associations. 1862 is the birth year of the Alpine Club. One year later, the First Vienna Rowing Club LIA was founded, followed by the Jockey Club in 1867.

In this year, the Habsburg monarchy established freedom of association at the same time as the Basic Law. This led to the founding of numerous associations. In addition, the religious aid organizations Caritas and Diakonie spread from Germany to Austria in the 19th century.

One particular feature that makes Austria special is that the interest groups representing the professions are organised as associations and can therefore be regarded as NPOs. This is one of the main reasons for the - by international comparison - particularly strong political influence of NGOs in Austria.

Intertwined with political parties

Many organisations operate at state level and only collaborate loosely at national level. At state level, cooperation with the political leadership and promotion of NGOs has been running smoothly for a long time.

In 1997, important NGOs in Austria founded their own interest group, the Interest Group of the Non-Profit Sector and Voluntary Organizations ( IGO for short), better known today as the Alliance for the Common Good. The reason for this was a massive increase in postal newspaper charges. This would have severely impaired the public relations work of the organizations. The members of the IGO include numerous important aid organizations in Austria, such as SOS Kinderdorf, Amnesty International and WWF, as well as the Federal Association for People with Disabilities, IG Kultur and the Society of Friends of the Fine Arts.

The global growth of NGOs also affects Austria. In recent decades, both the number of organizations and the number of employees have increased significantly. According to the IGO and the Fundraising Association, Austria has an enormous diversity and wealth of civil society organizations with over 125,000 associations and other non-profit bodies. Around 2.3 million people are involved in these organizations on a voluntary basis and there are around 250,000 employment relationships in the non-profit sector, which corresponds to around 6% of all people employed in Austria.

The most important NGOs in Austria include the following organizations:

The diversity and commitment of non-governmental organizations in Austria demonstrate the strong civil society involvement in the country and offer a wide range of opportunities to get involved in important social, cultural and environmental issues.

NGOs in Germany

The non-profit sector in Germany is just as diverse as in neighboring Austria. Here, NGOs have a long history that dates back to times when social injustice and economic hardship plagued large sections of the population. In 1847, Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen and Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch founded the first cooperative banks, which later became known as Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken.

The social upheavals of the revolutionary year 1848 further strengthened social sentiment, leading to the formation of numerous aid organizations by churches, some of which are still active today, including the Catholic Caritas and the Protestant Diakonie.

Integrated into the policy-making process

Since then, NGOs have been involved in political decision-making processes at federal, state and local level. According to a survey by ZiviZ , there are over 650,000 civil society organizations in Germany in 2022, and around 17.5 million citizens volunteer in clubs, associations and foundations. These figures illustrate the strong presence and influence of civil society in Germany.

Although there is no precise analysis of the labor market for NGOs, studies such as those conducted by the Bonn Science Shop show that NGOs make a significant contribution to employment. Between 2006 and 2011, around 22,600 jobs were advertised in the NGO sector alone, and this figure only represents a fraction of those employed in the non-profit sector. In addition to associations, the number of foundations has also risen sharply.

The most important NGOs in Germany include the following organizations:

These organizations do important work in the areas of health, social affairs, humanitarian aid and much more, and they play a crucial role in Germany's social fabric.

NGOs in Switzerland

The non-profit sector in Switzerland is characterized by direct democracy and pluralism. The first charitable institutions in the Swiss Confederation date back to the 14th century. The Inselspital in Bern, for example, was founded in 1354.

When the Helvetic Republic came into being around 1800, numerous social reforms came into force. The Swiss Charitable Society, founded in 1810, was a driving force behind social innovations, for example in the formulation of social standards. It also promoted the founding of numerous non-profit organizations, which were primarily self-help organizations in mountainous regions that were difficult to access.

In the middle of the 19th century, the advent of tourism led to the founding of numerous associations. The Swiss Alpine Club, for example, was founded in 1863. In the 20th century, the Swiss state developed a well-funded welfare system that made many NGOs superfluous. Direct democracy led to the formation of numerous interest groups, including trade unions and employers' associations.

Structural change in the 20th century

A structural change took place in the Swiss non-profit sector during the second half of the 20th century. Churches as well as trade unions and political parties lost many members. This led to the merger of numerous organisations in the field of sport, as well as business associations, trade unions and civil society organisations that pursued the same goals.

At the same time, numerous foundations were established. With almost 14,000 foundations, Switzerland occupies a leading position in an international comparison. The density of foundations is highest in Zurich, Bern and Vaud. Nevertheless, the association remains the most important legal form in the NPO sector.

In 2010, a study was published that provides an overview of the so-called third sector in Switzerland. It was produced as part of the Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project. According to the study, 180,500 full-time employees worked in the Swiss nonprofit sector in 2005. In addition, there are volunteer hours, which correspond to approximately 80,000 full-time positions. Most employees work in social services. Volunteers, on the other hand, are more involved in the areas of culture, sport and social services. Most NPOs in Switzerland are active in the health and social services sector.

The most important NGOs in Switzerland include the following organizations:

The broad spectrum and dedicated work of NGOs in Switzerland reflect the diverse history of the non-profit sector, from the early charitable institutions to modern organizations and foundations that are committed to social, cultural and political causes. These NGOs are indispensable players in Swiss society and contribute significantly to the promotion of democracy, solidarity and social justice.

Meaningful work? NGOs are the solution!

Now that you have learned more about NGOs, could you see yourself working in an NGO and actively contributing to its goals? Non-governmental organizations offer a lot of opportunities for social impact jobs and are committed to social, environmental and development issues, thereby bringing about real change.

If you would like to become part of an NGO and do something meaningful, visit our job platform for NGO jobs. At NGOjobs you will find a wide range of job offers in NGOs and social enterprises. From project management to fundraising to IT specialists - there are many positions here that support your passion and commitment.

Just take a look and discover how you can contribute your skills and convictions to an organization that works for a better world.

Click here for the job market

Further information

If you want to know more about NGOs, we can recommend these books and websites:

If you have any other sources, books or tips on the subject of NGOs, please send us an email to support@ngojobs.eu and we will add to the list.

List of sources:

Definition:

Austria:

Germany:

Switzerland:

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