ABSTRACT

If maximising profit is the paramount objective of the private sector, maximising impact is the paramount objective of NGOs. Conventionally this is achieved, as in the private sector, through growth – the ‘additive’ approach. However many strategically-minded NGOs find expanding and replicating projects too slow. They seek to move into the fast stream of social change by ‘influencing’ attitudes, policy and practice, and have been inspired by the success of the women’s movement, the environment movement and other prominent campaigns which have succeeded in doing this.