About NGOs and Think Tanks
What is an NGO?
An NGO, or non-governmental organization, is a nonprofit organization that works independent of government to address social issues. This may include research, but NGOs' primary focus is on taking action on the ground. NGOs typically have a broad national or international scope to their work, whereas nonprofits are typically more locally focused.
What is a Think Tank?
The term "think tank" refers to a variety of nonprofit research organizations that produce public policy research, analysis, and often conduct advocacy, as well. Some think tanks are nonpartisan, and some are affiliated with a political party or ideology. It's important to understand the point of view of the think tank whose reports you are using so that you can place them in context for your audience.
Find and Evaluate Think Tanks and NGOs:
- Open Think Tank DirectoryFrom their website:
The Open Think Tank directory aims to pull together key information about policy organisations into one place. Today, it features public information for more than 3,600 organisations worldwide. The directory supports sector transparency and information accessibility. - Worldwide NGO DirectoryA tool to search for NGOs by region, country, and keyword. Detailed results are paywalled, but this is a great starting point to identify relevant organizations. For the best search results, use the "mission" field on the search page.
- Journalist's Resource: Tip Sheet for Writing About Think TanksThis tip sheet aims to help journalists ask critical questions before citing a think tank’s research or experts.
Some NGOs to Start With
- Human Rights WatchThis link takes you directly to the publications section, where you can search by keyword, year, country, or topic.
From their website:
"Human Rights Watch investigates and reports on abuses happening in all corners of the world. We are roughly 450 people of 70-plus nationalities who are country experts, lawyers, journalists, and others who work to protect the most at risk, from vulnerable minorities and civilians in wartime, to refugees and children in need." - Transparency InternationalThis link directs you to the research portion of the TI website. Take notice of sections, "Corruption Perceptions Index" and "Global Corruption Barometer."
From their website:
"Transparency International is a global movement working in over 100 countries to end the injustice of corruption.
We focus on issues with the greatest impact on people’s lives and hold the powerful to account for the common good. Through our advocacy, campaigning and research, we work to expose the systems and networks that enable corruption to thrive, demanding greater transparency and integrity in all areas of public life." - The Fund for PeaceFrom their website:
With a clear focus on the nexus of human security and economic development, FFP contributes to more peaceful and prosperous societies by engineering smarter methodologies and smarter partnerships. FFP empowers policy-makers, practitioners, and populations with context-specific, data-driven applications to diagnose risks and vulnerabilities and to develop solutions through collective dialogue. - UN World Food ProgramFrom their website:
"The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change." - UN High Commission for RefugeesFrom their website:
"Our primary purpose at UNHCR is to safeguard the rights and well-being of people who have been forced to flee. Together with partners and communities, we work to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country. We also strive to secure lasting solutions."
Think Tanks
Databases With Think Tank Research Reports:
- JSTOR This link opens in a new windowTo find think tank research reports, select "Research Reports" under "Content Type" in the left column on the search results page.
- ProQuest Newspapers This link opens in a new windowNarrow your results by selecting "Reports" under "Source Type" in the left column on the search results page. Note: if you don't see an option for "reports," click "more" and scroll to find it in the box that pops up.
Recommended Nonpartisan Think Tanks:
- The Council on Foreign RelationsFrom their website:
"The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher dedicated to being a resource for its members, government officials, business executives, journalists, educators and students, civic and religious leaders, and other interested citizens in order to help them better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries. Founded in 1921, CFR takes no institutional positions on matters of policy." - The Brookings InstituteFrom their website:
"The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level." - Freedom HouseFrom their website:
"Freedom House produces research and reports on a number of core thematic issues related to democracy, political rights and civil liberties. Our research and analysis frame the policy debate in the United States and abroad on the progress and decline of freedom. Freedom House's flagship publication Freedom in the World is the standard-setting comparative assessment of global political rights and civil liberties. Freedom House also produces several annual reports, including Freedom on the Net, Nations in Transit, Freedom and the Media, the China Media Bulletin, and several Special Reports." - Stockholm International Peace Research for InstituteFrom their website:
"SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. Established in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public." - Pew Research CenterFrom their website:
"Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. We conduct public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research. We do not take policy positions."