Martins
Library explains How to Start a Successful NGO with style in Nigeria.
Editor’s Note:
In response to the overwhelming number of comments, the author of Martins
Library decided to post this update on 2013: “It is amazing
to see how many people have seen and commented on this article. It is well
beyond my exceptions. Most all of the
300+ commenter seemed to have overlooked steps 1-6 and went to funding as the
beginning point for starting an NGO.
This approach
will not be successful, in the short term or long term.
First, you need
to do something, anything, and you 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.
Best wishes from MARTINS
LIBRARY to all your future NGO’s in Nigeria or Abroad
Frequently asked Questions: 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 in Nigeria but don’t know how to
go about it. What do I do?
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.” – Martins Chima
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 Martins Library'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
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 6-25 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 in Nigeria.
Community
Connection
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KEYWORDS Tagged under: guide,
NGO, organization, start,
start-up, successful,
tips, volunteer
Written by: Martins Chima
Edited by: MARTINS INFORMATION LIBRARY
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