Writing for the NGO Markets (Non-Governmental Organizations)

NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) are non-profit groups dedicated to humanitarian or political activism both in this country and abroad. This presents a unique income opportunity for freelance writers who know how to pursue these jobs. Most NGOs work primarily with freelance writers rather than hiring in-house writers for their various publications, both for advertisement and educational purposes.

Writing for the NGO markets can be a rewarding experience because you'll have the knowledge that your efforts earned you money while also helping a non-profit organization gain support. most NGOs print at least one publication every six months, and some have monthly or even weekly newsletters or mini-magazines that are sent to those who donate or volunteer.

1- Locate Potential NGO Markets

You can usually call up your favorite search engine and find a list of NGOs in a couple of minutes. Some NGOs, such as Habitat for Humanity, may be too large to target as freelance writing opportunities immediately, but you can start with some of the smaller organizations and work your way up. You can visit the Union for International Associations website (uia.org) for a complete list of more than 40,000 non-profits, including descriptions for each.

2- Determine What You Can Do for an NGO Market

Your next step is to decide what you can offer an NGO market as a freelance writer. It is never a good idea to send a query or a letter of interest when you don't know what you can offer, and NGOs respond better to concrete offers for services. For example, if you are a great persuasive writer, you might want to write reports and proposals for NGOs to garner more funding.

3- Determine Your Fee List

Some NGO markets pay a flat fee or stipend to freelance writers while others will be willing to negotiate. There is no possible way to set a standard fee for non-profit freelance writing because each one has different levels of funding and support. You might earn $2,000 to write a proposal for a prosperous NGO, but another might only be able to pay you $200. When you first start out, however, avoid discriminating based on what an organization can pay. You can get more picky as your work becomes well-known.

4- Learn Discretion

The world of NGO markets is slowly becoming similar to the corporate world as donations become increasingly scarce and funding dollars are flushed down the proverbial toilet. Make sure that you never disclose secrets of one organization to another. Similarly, you should never present a work-in-progress as an example of your abilities until that project has been published or is no longer relevant.

5- Market Your Proofreading and Editing Skills

One of the most in-demand skills a freelance writer can have when it comes to writing for NGO markets is the ability to edit and proofread. Even if they don't need writers at this precise moment, they can probably you use as a contractor for editing materials before they go to press or are submitted to potential donors. Just send a query letter to the NGO of your choice and list your qualifications as well as a sample of your work.