NGO is a short form of "Nongovernmental Organization". Thus NGO is a non-governmental organization and, in its broadest sense, is one that is not directly part of the structure of government. NGOs have developed to emphasize and promote humanitarian issues, development aid and sustainable development.

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any form of government. The term normally used to refer to organizations that are not a part of the government and are not conventional for-profit business.