A global day celebrating the people behind nonprofits and NGOs making a difference around the world.
The first edition records how the Day has developed, country by country, with named sources.
There are many ways to take part in World NGO Day.
For over a decade, the symbol has represented unity, diversity, and the people behind civil society, celebrated every 27 February.
The first global guide to discovering cities and their nonprofit-friendly places, where organizations and communities meet, connect, celebrate, convene and collaborate, featuring exclusive interviews, local recommendations, original photography and art.
Volume 1 · USAWest Hollywood, San Diego, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C. and New York.
SubscribeLearn who safeguards the legacy of World NGO Day and how you can support it.
FriendsHAUS Founder and Assistance League of Los Angeles Board Member J’Net Nguyen joins as Executive Advisor.
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World NGO Day is an international day celebrating the people behind nonprofits and non-governmental organizations, observed every 27 February.
From its beginnings to a global day recognized across borders, explore the milestones, people and places that have shaped World NGO Day since 2009.
On World NGO Day, we stand firm in our commitment to protect and support a strong, independent and resilient civil society and to strengthen partnerships with NGOs across the globe.
As the governor of Washington, it is my honor and privilege to join our community in celebrating World NGO Day. On this occasion, we take a moment to recognize and appreciate the invaluable contributions made by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across our nation and world. I encourage all Washingtonians to take a moment today to learn about the impactful work being done by NGOs around the world.
On World NGO Day, we honour the remarkable dedication and resilience of workers in international development and humanitarian assistance. These often-unsung heroes are committed to reaching vulnerable and marginalized people with responsive, inclusive and life-changing assistance.
World NGO Day is an annual celebration recognizing the founders, employees, volunteers, members and supporters of organizations independent of government.
World NGO Day is an international day
celebrating the people behind nonprofits and non-governmental organizations,
observed every 27 February.
As we marked the 10th anniversary of World NGO
Day, Nonprofit City was born in the heart of West Hollywood, California, inspired by its
vibrant civil society community and a vision to encourage cities and businesses to
become nonprofit-friendly places where organizations and communities meet,
connect, celebrate, convene and collaborate.
Nonprofit City is the first global guide to discovering cities, from small to big, and their nonprofit-friendly places. Vol. 1 opens in the United States, from West Hollywood, San Diego and Los Angeles to Chicago, Washington D.C. and New York, bringing together the places where organizations and communities meet, connect, celebrate, convene and collaborate.
Subscribe NowWorld NGO Day began in Europe and is now recognized in more than 140 countries. Nonprofit City was born in West Hollywood, so Vol. 1 begins where the story started, in the United States, home to one of the world’s largest nonprofit sectors. As the world turns its attention to Los Angeles in 2028, the first volume brings World NGO Day to USA cities. Future volumes will follow in Europe and beyond.
Each city in the guide is an intimate portrait of its civic life, heritage and character. With exclusive interviews and stories from more than 95 guests, local recommendations, original photography and art, it features the nonprofit-friendly places of each city, the stories of its partners and the nonprofits they support, and a goodwill message from each Patron City.
Subscribe NowA nonprofit-friendly place meets at least one of the Nonprofit City principles:
World NGO Day: Mark 27 February each year by celebrating the nonprofits in your city.
Nonprofit Rates: Offer fair and clear terms for your services, spaces or products.
Local Giving: Support at least one local nonprofit directly.
Community Space: Open your space to nonprofits and community groups, free or at reduced cost.
Team Volunteering: Encourage your team to volunteer with local nonprofits.
Nonprofit City Patrons are the cities that recognize 27 February as World NGO Day and celebrate their nonprofit community. Each Patron City shares its story and a goodwill message in the guide, and publicly encourages its hotels, venues and businesses to become nonprofit-friendly places.
Become a PatronNonprofit City Partners are the hotels, venues and businesses that welcome the nonprofit sector. Each partner meets at least one of the Nonprofit City principles and shares its story in the guide, including the nonprofits it supports. In return for supporting the guide, partners receive the Nonprofit City Partner mark, recognizing them as a nonprofit-friendly place.
Become a Partner
Vol. 1 · CaliforniaWest HollywoodNonprofit City Guide
Vol. 1 · CaliforniaLos AngelesNonprofit City Guide
Vol. 1 · CaliforniaSan DiegoNonprofit City Guide
Vol. 1 · IllinoisChicagoNonprofit City Guide
Vol. 1 · District of ColumbiaWashington D.C.Nonprofit City Guide
Vol. 1 · New YorkNew YorkNonprofit City GuideThe Baltic states of Lithuania and Latvia have formally integrated World NGO Day into their national calendars, strengthening the partnership between government institutions and the non-governmental sector.
Read more →The inaugural Global Review aggregates records from 2009 to 2026, documenting observance activities across more than 140 countries and territories in over 90 languages and scripts.
Read more →The World NGO Day Global Review documents the observance across diverse writing systems and languages, highlighting an organic, grassroots adoption that reflects local identities and communities worldwide.
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A more expressive World NGO Day website, a richer editorial experience and a redesigned MyWND ecosystem created to welcome more people who care about the global day and its movement.
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