How to start an NGO? Such a big question, we’ll give you that!
But imagine building an NGO even more influential than WWF? Yes, it’s doable, we’ll show you how!
The ultimate goal? Create an NGO so efficient that one day it’ll be useless. Why? Because that would mean you’ve solved the issue your NGO was created to address. That’s the real victory! 🏆
This article will guide you every step of the way: From defining your mission, setting up funding, to launching your nature organisation!
Everything you need to know about how to set up an NGO (and make a difference for nature!). 🐝
Step 1: How to start an NGO & pick a killer name
Crafting a mission that actually means something
Your NGO’s mission is your why. It’s what motivates you and others to follow your cause. If your mission is unclear, it’ll be like going on an adventure without a map… You’ll risk going in circles. 🗺
How do you create your mission? By being super precise!
If your objective is to protect vaquitas, say it clearly! The more precise you are, the more impactful your mission will be.
Ask yourself:
✅ What/who do I want to protect or restore?
✅ What’s the issue I’m trying to solve?
✅ How will I achieve it?
A clear, inspiring, and realistic mission is the first step in setting your NGO on the right path!
Choosing a name that sticks
Your NGO’s name is your first impression. It must be memorable & impactful to stick in people’s minds!
It should be easy to remember and represent your mission. If you want to protect vaquitas, names like Vaquitopia or Vaquitaid are directly tied to your cause. 🐋
Avoid generic names that can get lost in the crowd. And if it’s hard to say, spell, or remember, you risk losing people’s interest before they even understand your mission!
A strong name will give you an identity and help you stand out.
Still at the naming stage and feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry! The Ecopreneur Beginner Bootcamp will help you move from just an idea to getting your first paying supporters.
In just 6 weeks, we’ll guide you every step of the way on how to start an NGO!
Step 2: How to set up an NGO that is viable and targets the right audience
How to start an NGO and make sure it’s viable!
Wanting to make a difference isn’t enough. You need to make sure your project is viable in the long run.
Understand and evaluate your needs, the necessary resources, and potential obstacles.
Ask yourself:
✅ Can my NGO start with the limited resources I have? And how can I plan the next steps?
Break your project down into smaller, manageable steps:
✅ What’s essential to get my NGO off the ground?
✅ How can I secure the necessary funds and resources?
If you don’t have everything you need right now, it’s totally normal. But, be realistic and understand what you’ll need to build your NGO.
The key: Don’t jump into something unrealistic. Start small, do your research, audit your project, and be ready to pivot if necessary.
Find your wild target audience
Your NGO needs a public that believes in your mission. That’s your target audience: people who share a passion for biodiversity and wildlife!
How do you find them?
1️⃣ Target people concerned by your mission: who will be touched by your cause?
If you’re protecting the Saiga antelopes, your ideal audience will probably be passionate people, conservationists, organisations, and those directly in contact with this animal. 🦌
2️⃣ Understand their needs and motivations: What drives them?
Is it their love for nature, a wish to be part of local initiatives?
3️⃣ Identify ways to reach them: where are these people?
Are they active on social media, attending events, or part of local communities? Tailor your approach based on your audience’s habits.
Ask yourself:
✅ Who needs/believes the most in my mission?
✅ Where and how can I reach them?
Finding the right audience that’ll support you can also be daunting. That’s why we created Wildya+ Community.
A place where you’ll find reassurance, support, a growing community (potential audience!), and resources to help you start & grow your NGO!
Step 3: Build your dream team and set up the structure
What leadership roles do you need to rock this NGO?
When you think about your dream team, define the essential leadership roles for your NGO to function and hit its goals. 💼
One of the first roles you need is the Executive Director. This person will be the head of your NGO, setting up strategic direction and ensuring your vision is implemented effectively.
Next up, you’ll need a Partnership Manager to build relationships with organisations & companies that align with your vision, secure funding and support.
Don’t forget the Treasurer who’ll manage your NGO’s finances, ensuring transparency and proper use of funds.
Great leadership also means knowing how to delegate and find the right people for the job.
Creating your board of directors (yep, you need them!)
One of the crucial steps in setting up an NGO is building a strong board of directors.
Your board should be made up of people with diverse and solid skills. You’ll need people with financial & legal expertise, but also those with specific knowledge related to the issue your NGO aims to tackle.
If your mission is to restore ecosystems, make sure to have biologists, conservationists, and experts who can lend credibility to your organisation. 🔬
The board will help you manage resources, set directions, and implement new solutions. They’re the heart of your NGO’s development.
Building your dream team can be tricky, especially when it comes to defining the roles you need! If you’re feeling stuck, Wildya’s 1:1 consulting can help you sort things out!
Step 4: Money talks: let’s get that budget sorted and fundraising on track
How to set up an NGO with a solid financial plan
To ensure your NGO is on the right track, a financial plan is a MUST! It should clarify your financial needs in the short, medium, and long term. 💰
Start by setting up a realistic forecast budget, defining your operating expenses (salaries, materials, etc.) and the necessary investments for the launch.
Don’t forget to account for unforeseen costs!
A solid financial plan is also about tracking your finances regularly to stay on course and adjust as needed. This’ll help you remain flexible while staying strategic.
No funds, no NGO. Simple as that. So don’t rush this step!
How to fundraise without losing your mind
Now that your financial plan is in place, focus on fundraising!
First, know exactly who you’re talking to. By now, you should have a clear understanding of your target audience (thanks to Step 2), which will make it way easier to decide how and where to raise funds.
There are a ton of opportunities: Grants, partnerships, private donations, crowdfunding, angel investors… the list goes on! 💸
But here’s the trick: Don’t rely on just one source of funding! To reduce risk and give your NGO a stable foundation, you need to diversify your strategy.
Research and identify the best opportunities for your mission, and always come prepared with a solid pitch.
On Wildya+ Community, we offer real-life fundraising tips, a massive database of funding opportunities, and masterclasses with successful ecopreneurs who’ve been there, done that!
Join now to unlock all the funding potential of your NGO!
Step 5: Figure out the legal stuff & register your NGO
Choose the legal structure of your NGO
Before registering your NGO, you need to choose its legal structure! It depends on the type of NGO you want to build and your location:
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
🇺🇸 United States
🇩🇪 Germany
🇫🇷 France
Where and how to register your NGO
Now you know more about the legal structure, it’s time to register your NGO!
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: This’ll be done with the Charity Commission directly online.
🇺🇸 United States: You need to register at the state level. Check the state’s official website for registration details. Then you need to register with the IRS for federal tax-exempt status.
🇩🇪 Germany: The process depends on your NGO type:
- Association (Verein): With the Amtsgericht (local court) in the area where you’re based.
- Foundation (Stiftung): With the Federal state authority that oversees foundations in your region.
- Non-profit company (gGmbH): With the Handelsregister (commercial register) through the local Amtsgericht.
🇫🇷 France: You need to register your NGO as an association with the local council (préfecture), and can be done directly online.
Step 6: Get online (you need a website and social media, trust us)
Building a website that sets you apart
Building a website starts with knowing what people should remember about your NGO.
It’s like your virtual business card, so it needs to be simple but unique enough to grab attention! 💻
Make sure your website tells your story clearly and explains why your mission matters. It should be easy to navigate and build engagement through “how to get involved” and donation pages.
Add elements that build credibility, like testimonials, partnerships, & concrete examples of your work.
Your website should exude transparency, engagement, trust, and inspire others to join your cause!
Leveraging social media to get the word out (for real)
Social media is now part of our daily lives and an excellent way to give visibility to your NGO & connect with your community!
Choose the platforms where your audience hangs out:
📲 Young audience = Instagram and TikTok.
💻 Professionals = LinkedIn.
Regardless of the platform, you need to be consistent and authentic!
Build your NGO’s personal brand to reflect your values and set you apart from the rest.
And it’s also about engaging! Answer followers’ questions & comments, create conversations, share actionable examples and invite them to join your cause.
Social media will amplify your mission!
Step 7: Time to launch! Let’s make your NGO official and working
Organising the big launch event or campaign (make some noise!)
The big day’s here, you’ve earned it! Now that you’ve learned how to start an NGO, it’s time to make some noise! 🎉
Organise an event or campaign that grabs attention, shows off what you’re doing & why it matters.
The goal? Get people talking about your project and create some buzz around it. 🪩
It can be online, in-person, whatever works! What matters the most is that it’s fun, connects you with your community, and gets them engaged.
You want them to be pumped to watch your NGO growing, so get wild and make sure this launch sticks in their minds!
Keeping track and setting goals (because you’re in this for the long haul)
Your NGO is now live, but you still need to track your progress in the long run. Set clear, realistic objectives that you can measure. 📈
Use simple tools, like a dashboard, to monitor your evolution. This will help you assess what works and what needs improvement. Like a regular business!
Keep your long-term vision in mind and be ready to adapt along the way. After all, as the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” and neither will your NGO! 🏛
Now you have all the steps on how to start an NGO!
Yes, the journey is quite long, but it’s also super exciting! From defining your mission, finding your target audience & funding options, to launching your NGO, you’re ready to make a difference. ✨
Remember, the ultimate goal is to get to the point where your NGO is no longer needed because you’ve fixed the issue it was created for!
If you’re still feeling a bit wobbly, don’t worry, Wildya is here to help! Our core mission is to support ecopreneurs like you who want to make a wilder world. 🦁
The Ecopreneur Beginner Bootcamp is designed to help you go from idea to your first paying supporters! We guide you step by step on how to set up an NGO!
