This paper offers a comparative discussion of three non-governmental organizations (NGOs): Charity: Water, Amnesty International, and Carbon Trust. Each organization represents a distinct humanitarian focus—access to clean drinking water, global human rights, and environmental sustainability, respectively. The paper examines each NGO's founding, mission, primary funding sources, and operational structure, drawing comparisons across these dimensions. It concludes by evaluating which organization might benefit most from additional financial investment, arguing that Charity: Water's relative youth and modest, attainable project scope make it a particularly compelling candidate for donor support.
The following discussion considers three highly distinct non-governmental organizations (NGOs), all of which work free of political imperatives or public pressure in order to address some of the most pressing humanitarian issues facing the global community. Issues such as poverty, pollution, access to survival amenities, and freedom from war, abuse, or political oppression drive the orientation of NGOs. The three organizations selected here represent a suitable cross-section of these concerns.
Charity: Water was selected both because of the importance of its mission and the sheer enormity of its task. The ambition to bring clean, safe drinking water to people in parts of the world where this basic necessity is scarce is an extremely important one with the capacity to save and extend many lives. With respect to saving lives, Amnesty International was chosen because of the organization's well-established reputation for doing just that. As a prominent NGO with a widely recognized name, Amnesty International serves as an example of an organization engaging in extremely challenging work over a sustained period of time and can be regarded as a model for success in this sector. Finally, given the pressing importance of environmental and ecological issues today, Carbon Trust was selected for its priorities in the face of climate change and ecological degradation.
According to its website, Charity: Water was founded in 2006 by Scott Harrison in New York City (CW, p. 1). Harrison describes himself as a former nightclub promoter who traveled to West Africa in the name of Christian charity. Observing so many individuals suffering from disease, starvation, and a lack of medical attention inspired him to work to bring potable drinking and bathing water to people living in such conditions. The NGO's goals are individually modest even as the broader issue of global access to potable water remains an extremely daunting one. As the mission statement explains: "We're not offering grand solutions and billion dollar schemes, but instead, simple things that work. Things like freshwater wells, rainwater catchments and sand filters. For about $20 a person, we know how to help millions." (Harrison, p. 1)
The primary source of funding for Charity: Water comes in the form of personal contributions. According to its 2010 annual report, the NGO neared a new high of almost $6 million by the end of that year (CW1, p. 1). Support from celebrities such as Will Smith and the success of the organization's annual charity gala also contributed to this total.
Amnesty International describes itself as a non-governmental organization dedicated to research on human rights abuses, action on humanitarian crises, and the promotion of global justice (AI, p. 1). Originating in London and beginning operations worldwide in 1961, its primary focus is the developing world, where humanitarian crises are often symptomatic of broader economic, political, and ethnic strife. Its mission is to ensure that all nations and their peoples adhere to the conditions set forth by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international instruments concerning humanitarian matters.
With respect to funding, much like Charity: Water, Amnesty International is highly dependent upon the generosity of private donors. According to its website, "these personal and unaffiliated donations allow AI to maintain full independence from any and all governments, political ideologies, economic interests or religions. We neither seek nor accept any funds for human rights research from governments or political parties and we accept support only from businesses that have been carefully vetted." (AI, p. 1) With roughly three million supporters, members, and donors, Amnesty International maintains a highly flexible operating budget.
"Climate-focused NGO with government funding support"
"Volunteer versus professional staffing across NGOs"
Amnesty International (AI). (2011). Homepage. Amnesty.org.
Carbon Trust (CT). (2011). Homepage. Carbontrust.co.uk.
Charity: Water (CW). (2011). Homepage. Charitywater.org.
Charity: Water (CW1). (2010). Charity: Water — Annual Report 2010. Charitywater.org.
Harrison, S. (2011). Mission. Charitywater.org.
Herrera, T. (2010). 10 Green NGOs Businesses Should Know About. GreenBiz.
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