What Makes a New NGO Succeed?

As I've written before, one of my favorite bloggers is Alanna Shaikh, over at Blood and Milk, who's now also writing the Global Health blog for change.org. A few days ago she posted an excellent piece on What makes a new NGO succeed, which she was kind enough to let me re-copy below.

Anyone who's ever thought about, wondered what it would take to start and NGO should definitey read what Alanna wrote.

What makes a new NGO succeed?
Alanna Shaikh
1. Highly targeted mission. If you have the skill set to identify a very specific goal, you are likely to have the expertise to do your work well. And when I say very specific, I mean it. Something along the lines of “supply used lab equipment to labs around the world that request it” or “provide vaccines and health care providers to one small village.” In addition, a very specific goal gives you a solid fundraising angle. Community development for one small village is too general.

2. A cool name. I only wish I was kidding. But groups with cool names like Nothing but Nets (which has as a bonus an obvious sports tie-in) or a rhyming name like Unite for Sight – which sound catchy and immediately explain the organization's goal – are far more likely to find support. It’s easier to raise funds, hire good staff, get grants and find high-profile supporters when everyone can easily remember who you are and what you do.

3. And, of course, the song I always sing – a funding model which does not involve getting government or foundation grants. To repeat, it is very hard to get government funding. USAID and the other government donors usually identify a problem and then give grants or contracts to solve that problem. Big grants. Generally over $500,000. They don’t have the time to manage the kind of $30K grant you probably need for start-up. And foundations like to work with partners who have a long track record; they are rarely interested in funding the new guys. So, if you want to succeed, have a fundraising plan. (here’s a hint – a cool name and a highly specific goal will help.)

Edited to add: I forgot the thing which actually started this post in my head. I have a new job - I am the global health blogger for Change.org. I am very excited about this. Change.org is full of amazing people with a big social entrepreneurship ideas. We're seeing huge numbers of people on the site every month. But I suspect that an awful lot of our success is due to the fact that the name Change.org is easy to understand and sticks in your head with the tenacity of a Britney Spears song.

[Photo of children in South Sudan taken by Susannah Friedman]