There are many different local and international sources of non-governmental organization (NGO) funding. On the local level, funding can come from governments, local businesses, and community foundations. On the international level, NGO funding sources include that from the official development assistance agencies of countries, UN agencies, and multilateral development banks; worldwide sources also include international foundations, multinational corporations, international religious organizations, and larger international NGOs.
Official development agencies are common in the governments of economically developed countries and serve to provide financial aid for developing economies. They might do this on a large scale basis by giving directly to a country's government, but also on a smaller scale by supporting NGOs and grassroots projects. This kind of NGO funding is often accessible by visiting an embassy in the country where the organization is operating and submitting an application. There are also various agencies within the United Nations system that offer funding in a similar way.
Multilateral Development Banks are called multilateral because many different governments fund their operations. The primary business of these banks is to provide loans to countries, but they can also provide grants to NGOs. Some of these banks have a global focus while others are aimed at developing particular regions.
International foundations are set up with the specific aim of making grants to NGOs and other charitable organizations. These foundations are typically established through endowments, either on the part of a wealthy individual or a large organization. Many such foundations only offer funding for a specified aspect of development or for a particular region.
Global corporations are increasingly interested in supporting community and international development projects. This is largely because of an increased demand on the part of consumers for socially responsible business practices. Larger international NGOs also sometimes provide support for smaller ones acting on a more local level but with a related focus. Finally, on the international level, there are religious groups that contribute to NGO funding, though many of these do so with the stipulation that the organization is related to the same faith.
On the local level, there are government programs that might be appealed to for NGO funding. Local businesses might also be interested in having their names associated with development and community projects. There may also be local foundations already established that share some of the specific goals of the NGO and could collaborate by sharing funding as well as other kinds of resources.
