World NGO Day is an international day celebrating
the people behind nonprofits and non-governmental
organizations, observed every 27 February.
Global reach
A global day
with a global impact.
More than a decade of global recognition
Explore the journey of
World NGO Day.
From its beginnings to a global day recognized across borders, explore the milestones, people and places that have shaped World NGO Day since 2009.
2009201020142017202020232026
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Recognized and celebrated by
World
Leaders’ Statements
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.
Kajsa OllongrenSecretary-General of the European External Action Service (2026)European Union Special Representative for Human RightsFormer Deputy Prime Minister of the NetherlandsFormer Mayor of AmsterdamOfficial EU statement · World NGO Day · 27 February 2026
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.
Jay Inslee23rd Governor of WashingtonOffice of Governor Jay Inslee, Washington State, USAStatements · 27 February 2024
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.
The Honourable Harjit S. SajjanMinister of International DevelopmentGlobal Affairs Canada, CanadaStatements · 27 February 2023
World NGO Day is an annual celebration recognizing the founders, employees, volunteers, members and supporters of organizations independent of government.
The Honorable Di FarmerMinister for Child Safety, Youth and Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, AustraliaStatements · 27 February 2020
02Born from World NGO Day
Nonprofit Friendly City
For the first time, World NGO Day, a global observance, is honoring cities around the world that welcome nonprofits and promote their nonprofit-friendly local places and businesses.
The opportunity
Through World NGO Day, we have seen that beyond their missions, more than 10 million NGOs and nonprofits worldwide bring events, visitors and spending to cities and local businesses.
The gap
Yet not every city actively welcomes NGOs and nonprofits or promotes its nonprofit-friendly local places and businesses, making it harder for organizations to find them in other cities.
The recognition
That’s why, each year, the World NGO Day Global Council selects three Nonprofit Friendly Cities. The selected cities remain confidential until their official announcement on February 27, as part of the global World NGO Day celebration.
Newsroom
Latest from the
global movement.
How World NGO Day Became Part of the National Calendars of Lithuania and Latvia
The 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 →Official Announcement: Release of the First World NGO Day Global Review
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 →How World NGO Day Became a Global Day in More Than 90 Languages
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.
Read more →
A First Look at MyWND Version 2.0
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.
Read more →