Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the United States

The United States firmly believes that a strong civil society for the prosperity of democracy is independent of state control or government involvement. From the earliest times in U.S. history, civil society organizations have played a leading role in protecting human rights and advancing human progress. Civil society is the source of all-encompassing ideas, promoting everything from transparency and free expression, reversing inequality and rescuing our environment.

Civil society in the United States encompasses a wide range of organizations that allow individuals to organize themselves according to their own interests, needs, and priorities to achieve their social, economic, and political aspirations. We are committed to the idea that the public interest is best served if private citizens and members of civil society are able to freely choose the goals, organizations and reasons they support.

Accordingly, U.S. regulations that affect civil society organizations are designed to facilitate and support the formation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). U.S. regulations are specifically designed to avoid making decisions about the value or work of any NGO. The United States and international NGOs represent virtually every ideological ideology, political cause, religion, social problem, and interest group. Some are deeply involved in the political process; Others work far away from the non-partisan, political process and are only involved in social issues. The following summary explains how NGOs operate in the United States and how they are regulated.

What is civil society?
Civil society is a collection of social organizations that pursue goals or interests that are voluntarily shared by citizens. These include Independent Public Policy Research Organizations, Advocacy Organizations, Human Rights Defenders and Democracies, Humanitarian Organizations, Private Foundations and Funds, Charitable Trusts, Societies, Associations, and Nonprofit Corporations. It does not include political parties.

Areas of NGO activity in the United States
About 1.5 million NGOs work in the United States. These NGOs conduct a variety of activities, including foreign policy, elections, the environment, healthcare, women’s rights, economic development, and many other issues, including political advocacy. They often develop and solve new approaches to social and economic problems that government alone cannot solve. Many NGOs in the United States work in fields that are not related to politics. These include voluntary organizations that include religious faiths, labor unions, groups helping people with disabilities such as the poor or disabled, and groups trying to empower young or marginalized people. Indeed, NGOs exist to represent every imaginary factor. Sources of their funding include donations from individuals (American or foreign), private sector for-profit organizations, charitable foundations, or federal, state, or local government grants. Sources of money may also include foreign governments. There is no restriction in US law on foreign funding of NGOs; Whether foreign funding comes from government or private sources.

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