The zeitgeist anno 2024: NGOs, now what?

By Lex Dekker

Today, informateur Kim Putters releases his report on the cabinet formation. I do not want to express any political opinion in this blog. Not that I don't have one, but it is not so relevant here. TwoPurpose works with a large number of organisations that depend on contributions from individuals, companies, organisations and the government. The latter in particular would be wise to ask themselves what the political winds anno 2024 will mean for them. With these headwinds, how do you ensure that you can maintain or even strengthen your impact?

The parties that govern in the coming years do not have much in common with helping refugees, or improving human rights or supporting communities in faraway countries. The same goes for investing in strengthening our natural environment and combating climate change. Whichever way you look at it, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that depend on direct or indirect support from the government must reckon with diminishing revenues for their work. What to do about it?

On the contrary, there are opportunities

I do not claim to have all the answers ready. What I do see is that this political trend is contrary to all kinds of developments in society. In the younger generation, it is actually important to do work with social relevance. In the business world, I see that CSR (corporate social responsibility) has finally been taken seriously in recent years. That's where NGOs have to thrive. Those organisations that are able to seize these opportunities can continue to strengthen their impact in the years to come.

The business community needs to step up. As an NGO, how do you capitalise on this? And how do you activate the social awareness of young people? Young people who want to do something with that awareness, on a large or small scale. We would like to think about that with you. We have plenty of ideas on this. And also on how modern technology can help you make it happen. By engaging in targeted interaction based on all your available data, facilitating action platforms and thus creating win-win situations with these target groups. Consider this a call to join the conversation about this.

The government is going to do less in the coming years. But society is us. And we can mobilise it.