undertakes, such as activities involving human rights, consumer protection, environmentalism, health, or development. level of operation, which indicates the scale at which an organization works: local, regional, national, or international. Orientation Charity — often a top-down effort, with little participation or input from beneficiaries. They include NGOs directed at meeting the needs of disadvantaged people and groups. Service — includes NGOs that provide healthcare (including family planning) and education. Participatory — self-help projects with local involvement in the form of money, tools, land, materials, or labor Empowerment — aim to help poor people to understand the social, political, and economic factors affecting their lives, and to increase awareness of their power to control their lives. With maximum involvement by the beneficiaries, the NGOs are facilitators. Level of operation Community-based organizations (CBOs) — popular initiatives which can raise the consciousness of the urban poor, helping them understand their right to services, and providing such services. City-wide organizations — include chambers of commerce and industry, coalitions of business, ethnic or educational groups, and community organizations. State NGOs — include state-level organizations, associations, and groups. Some state NGOs are guided by national and international NGOs. National NGOs — an NGO that exists in only one country; they are rare. These include national organizations such as YMCAs and YWCAs, professional associations, and similar groups. Some have state or city branches, and assist local NGOs. International NGOs (INGOs) — range from secular agencies, such as Save the Children, to religious groups. They may fund local NGOs, institutions and projects, and implement projects. Other terms/acronyms Similar terms include third-sector organization (TSO), nonprofit organization (NPO), voluntary organization (VO), civil society organization (CSO), grassroots organization (GO), social movement organization (SMO), private voluntary organization (PVO), self-help organization (SHO), and non-state actors (NSAs). Numerous variations exist for the NGO acronym, either due to language, region, or specificity. Some Romance languages use the synonymous abbreviation ONG; for example: Other acronyms that are typically used to describe non-governmental organizations include: BINGO: Business-friendly international NGO or Big international NGO CSO: Civil society organization ENGO: Environmental NGO — organizations that advocate for the environment, such as Greenpeace and the WWF. DONGO: Donor-organized NGO GONGO: Government-organized non-governmental organization — often used derogatorily, these are government-backed NGOs that are set up to advocate on behalf of a repressive regime on the international stage. GSO: Grassroots Support Organization INGO: International NGO MANGO: Market advocacy NGO NGDO: Non-governmental