• India CSR Awards 2025
  • Guest Posts
Sunday, June 1, 2025
  • Login
India CSR
  • Home
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
    • Art & Culture
    • CSR Leaders
    • Child Rights
    • Culture
    • Education
    • Gender Equality
    • Around the World
    • Skill Development
    • Safety
    • Covid-19
    • Safe Food For All
  • Sustainability
    • Sustainability Dialogues
    • Sustainability Knowledge Series
    • Plastics
    • Sustainable Development Goals
    • ESG
    • Circular Economy
    • BRSR
  • Corporate Governance
    • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Interviews
  • SDGs
    • No Poverty
    • Zero Hunger
    • Good Health & Well-Being
    • Quality Education
    • Gender Equality
    • Clean Water & Sanitation – SDG 6
    • Affordable & Clean Energy
    • Decent Work & Economic Growth
    • Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
    • Reduced Inequalities
    • Sustainable Cities & Communities
    • Responsible Consumption & Production
    • Climate Action
    • Life Below Water
    • Life on Land
    • Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
    • Partnerships for the Goals
  • Articles
  • Events
  • हिंदी
  • More
    • Business
    • Finance
    • Environment
    • Economy
    • Health
    • Around the World
    • Social Sector Leaders
    • Social Entrepreneurship
    • Trending News
      • Important Days
        • Festivals
      • Great People
      • Product Review
      • International
      • Sports
      • Entertainment
    • Case Studies
    • Philanthropy
    • Biography
    • Technology
    • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • Gaming
    • Knowledge
    • Home Improvement
    • Words Power
    • Chief Ministers
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
    • Art & Culture
    • CSR Leaders
    • Child Rights
    • Culture
    • Education
    • Gender Equality
    • Around the World
    • Skill Development
    • Safety
    • Covid-19
    • Safe Food For All
  • Sustainability
    • Sustainability Dialogues
    • Sustainability Knowledge Series
    • Plastics
    • Sustainable Development Goals
    • ESG
    • Circular Economy
    • BRSR
  • Corporate Governance
    • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Interviews
  • SDGs
    • No Poverty
    • Zero Hunger
    • Good Health & Well-Being
    • Quality Education
    • Gender Equality
    • Clean Water & Sanitation – SDG 6
    • Affordable & Clean Energy
    • Decent Work & Economic Growth
    • Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
    • Reduced Inequalities
    • Sustainable Cities & Communities
    • Responsible Consumption & Production
    • Climate Action
    • Life Below Water
    • Life on Land
    • Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
    • Partnerships for the Goals
  • Articles
  • Events
  • हिंदी
  • More
    • Business
    • Finance
    • Environment
    • Economy
    • Health
    • Around the World
    • Social Sector Leaders
    • Social Entrepreneurship
    • Trending News
      • Important Days
        • Festivals
      • Great People
      • Product Review
      • International
      • Sports
      • Entertainment
    • Case Studies
    • Philanthropy
    • Biography
    • Technology
    • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • Gaming
    • Knowledge
    • Home Improvement
    • Words Power
    • Chief Ministers
No Result
View All Result
India CSR
No Result
View All Result
Home Articles

CONGO (Corporate Owned NGO’s) – Is it a Jungle out there?

The author sheds light on the burgeoning trend of corporate involvement in the conceptualization and support of Corporate Owned Non-Governmental Organizations (CONGOs) in India.

India CSR by India CSR
November 28, 2011
in Articles
Reading Time: 3 mins read
CONGO (Corporate Owned NGO’s) – Is it a Jungle out there?

India CSR News

0
VIEWS
Share Share Share Share

By Enakshi Sengupta & Vijay Kapur

With the rise of CSR in India and the rise of compassion to help others, Corporate houses have joined the band wagon of conceptualizing their “favoured child’ or CONGO’s owned by them as a panacea for the problems of development. As Vivian (1994) puts it in a humorous way that these CONGO’s or Corporate Owned NGO’s are treated as ‘magic bullets’, which can be fired at any direction , and very often, if we keep our fingers crossed it may find the right target.

The increasing availability of official funding and the desire to earn ‘goodwill’ has led to an alarming rate in the growth of these corporate owned non-governmental, not for profit organizations. Yet, in most of the cases we have noticed that they are liable to represent both opportunities as well as danger.

The CONGO often without a steering committee at its helm runs the risk of being co-opted into the agenda of others and thus results in their independent social base being eroded. A noted author warns against the inherent corruption in the CONGO’s not only in terms of financial scandals but deviation from their mission of social transformation.

India CSR
ADVERTISEMENT

The only path towards avoiding corruption is through a well placed performance monitoring cell, accountability to its stakeholders, avoidance of dictatorial leadership and a well worked out strategic plan with the help of qualified professionals. “This will ensure that a line remains drawn between transparent compromise and blind co-option” (Eade 1993).

Effective performance with proper planning and maintaining transparency becomes the vital pillars of responsible practice. CONGO’s even though funded by the corporate are accountable to each and every stakeholder’s whose lives they touch, their partners, supporters, staff members and to public. Their ‘upward’ accountability lies with their trustees, donors and host government.

Authoritarian rule and “MY organization” syndrome results in a defunct, mismanaged and a chaotic organization. A noted academician and author had pointed out that, “the ultimate objective for non-profit agencies is ‘changed’ human beings”. CONGO’s need to create a standard or a bench mark to measure their progress.

Indicators of quality performance and creation of satisfactory evaluative mechanism are essential to measure the performance of any CONGO. Quantitative targets, standardized indicators, appraisals and monitoring systems need to be developed by qualified professionals having expertise and knowledge in the field.

Although perceived as ‘soft and fluffy’ a CONGO needs staff members who are self critical and knowledgeable. Robert Michels, a Swiss social scientist, observed sadly that staff members with little education are vulnerable to the domination and predation of the autocratic leaders who are the heads of the CONGO’s. Such situation leads to ultimate collapse of the CONGO not before doing adequate harm to its beneficiaries by breaking their trust and psychological contract.

Responsibility shall always remain a vital element that is shared between CONGO’s and the communities which are expected to benefit from it. The question of legitimacy, identity and governance takes a centre stage. CONGO’s will need to adapt to a changing world, redefine their roles and recognize what is happening around them. It is only then they will be able to create a real time quantifiable impact to society and its stakeholders.


India CSR offers strategic corporate outreach opportunities to amplify your brand’s CSR, Sustainability, and ESG success stories.

📩 Contact us at: biz@indiacsr.in

Let’s collaborate to amplify your brand’s impact in the CSR and ESG ecosystem.

Tags: CSR and Corporate FoundationCSR and NGOEnakshi SenguptaVijay Kapur
India CSR

India CSR

India CSR is the largest media on CSR and sustainability offering diverse content across multisectoral issues on business responsibility. It covers Sustainable Development, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sustainability, and related issues in India. Founded in 2009, the organisation aspires to become a globally admired media that offers valuable information to its readers through responsible reporting.

Related Posts

Sustainability Is No Longer the Pitch, It’s the Project
Articles

Sustainability Is No Longer the Pitch, It’s the Project

2 weeks ago
0
From Scarcity to Sustainability: How Water Harvesting is Transforming Rural Communities
Articles

From Scarcity to Sustainability: How Water Harvesting is Transforming Rural Communities

4 weeks ago
0
Three Responsibilities Foreign Investors Must Embrace in India: A New Era of Accountability
Articles

Three Responsibilities Foreign Investors Must Embrace in India: A New Era of Accountability

2 months ago
0
A Strong Mind and Unwavering Decisions by Women Changed the Dynamics of Child Mortality and Maternal Mortality Ratio in India
Articles

A Strong Mind and Unwavering Decisions by Women Changed the Dynamics of Child Mortality and Maternal Mortality Ratio in India

2 months ago
0
2025 Should Prioritize the Social Sector and Look at More Inclusive Development
Articles

2025 Should Prioritize the Social Sector and Look at More Inclusive Development

2 months ago
0
Harnessing Digital Transformation for Strengthening Internal Marketing and Organizational Synergy 
Articles

Harnessing Digital Transformation for Strengthening Internal Marketing and Organizational Synergy 

2 months ago
0
Closing the Learning Divide: How Edufront is Transforming Schools Through CSR Partnerships
Articles

Closing the Learning Divide: How Edufront is Transforming Schools Through CSR Partnerships

2 months ago
0
Urgent Call for Collaboration on Gender Equality: Vaishali Nigam Sinha
Articles

Urgent Call for Collaboration on Gender Equality: Vaishali Nigam Sinha

2 months ago
0
Empathy in Action: How Companies are Embracing Disability Inclusion
Articles

Empathy in Action: How Companies are Embracing Disability Inclusion

2 months ago
0
Load More
Next Post

Companies Bill will promote greater shareholder democracy and stricter corporate governance norms: ASSOCHAM

Industry should be allowed to monitor implementation of CSR without government intervention: Assocham

India CSR Awards India CSR Awards India CSR Awards
ADVERTISEMENT

LATEST NEWS

USAID Dismantled: How CSR Can Fill the Innovation Funding Gap in India

CSR: Nand Ghar, JSI & Rocket Learning Unite to Transform Anganwadis in Rajasthan

CSR: राजस्थान के धौलपुर में आंगनवाड़ी केंद्रों से शुरू हुआ बाल विकास का नया दौर

Morgan Ventures Invests Rs 14.69 Lakhs in CSR Initiatives for FY 2025

SC Closes L&T Plea as MMRDA Cancels Rs 14,000 Cr Mumbai Infra Tender

Vi Q4 Loss at Rs 7,166 Crore, Plans Rs 20,000 Cr Fundraise for 5G Expansion

HZL HZL HZL
ADVERTISEMENT

TOP NEWS

No Content Available
Load More

Advertisement

Image Slider
content writing services Guest Post Top 5 Reasons to have Sponsored Posts at India CSR – India’s Largest CSR Media stem learning R2V2 Technologies Private Limited

Interviews

Driving Sustainable Impact: An Interview with Himanshu Nivsarkar, Kotak Mahindra Bank
Interviews

Driving Sustainable Impact: An Interview with Himanshu Nivsarkar, Kotak Mahindra Bank

by India CSR
May 22, 2025
0

By Rusen Kumar NEW DELHI (India CSR): Himanshu Nivsarkar, Senior Executive Vice President and Head of CSR & ESG at Kotak...

Read moreDetails
Empowering Women Drivers: An Interview with Balamurugan Thevar, CSR Head at Shriram Finance

Empowering Women Drivers: An Interview with Balamurugan Thevar, CSR Head at Shriram Finance

May 20, 2025
0
Empowering Rural Craft Entrepreneurs: An Interview with N E Sridhar, Titan Company

Empowering Rural Craft Entrepreneurs: An Interview with N E Sridhar, Titan Company

May 15, 2025
0
Empowering Young Innovators Across India: An Interview with Geetaj Channana, the Head of Corporate Strategy at Vivo India

Empowering Young Innovators Across India: An Interview with Geetaj Channana, the Head of Corporate Strategy at Vivo India

April 25, 2025
0
Load More
Facebook Twitter Youtube LinkedIn Instagram
India CSR Logo

India CSR is the largest tech-led platform for information on CSR and sustainability in India offering diverse content across multisectoral issues. It covers Sustainable Development, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sustainability, and related issues in India. Founded in 2009, the organisation aspires to become a globally admired media that offers valuable information to its readers through responsible reporting. To enjoy the premium services, we invite you to partner with us.

Follow us on social media:


Dear Valued Reader

India CSR is a free media platform that provides up-to-date information on CSR, Sustainability, ESG, and SDGs. They need reader support to continue delivering honest news. Donations of any amount are appreciated.

Help save India CSR.

Donate Now

donate at indiacsr

  • About India CSR
  • Team
  • India CSR Awards 2025
  • Partnership
  • Guest Posts
  • Services
  • Content Writing Services
  • Business Information
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donate

Copyright © 2024 - India CSR | All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
    • Art & Culture
    • CSR Leaders
    • Child Rights
    • Culture
    • Education
    • Gender Equality
    • Around the World
    • Skill Development
    • Safety
    • Covid-19
    • Safe Food For All
  • Sustainability
    • Sustainability Dialogues
    • Sustainability Knowledge Series
    • Plastics
    • Sustainable Development Goals
    • ESG
    • Circular Economy
    • BRSR
  • Corporate Governance
    • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Interviews
  • SDGs
    • No Poverty
    • Zero Hunger
    • Good Health & Well-Being
    • Quality Education
    • Gender Equality
    • Clean Water & Sanitation – SDG 6
    • Affordable & Clean Energy
    • Decent Work & Economic Growth
    • Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
    • Reduced Inequalities
    • Sustainable Cities & Communities
    • Responsible Consumption & Production
    • Climate Action
    • Life Below Water
    • Life on Land
    • Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
    • Partnerships for the Goals
  • Articles
  • Events
  • हिंदी
  • More
    • Business
    • Finance
    • Environment
    • Economy
    • Health
    • Around the World
    • Social Sector Leaders
    • Social Entrepreneurship
    • Trending News
      • Important Days
      • Great People
      • Product Review
      • International
      • Sports
      • Entertainment
    • Case Studies
    • Philanthropy
    • Biography
    • Technology
    • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • Gaming
    • Knowledge
    • Home Improvement
    • Words Power
    • Chief Ministers

Copyright © 2024 - India CSR | All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.