One section of the day’s discussion focused on a specific non-profit, working in the area of HIV/AIDS advocacy.  In this particular case, the NGO chose to register with the government as a business enterprise. The company did so in an effort to broaden its range of operations while avoiding the scrutiny and regulations afforded to traditional non-profit social organizations. As a registered for-profit, the organization can operate nationally, across districts. It is free to collaborate with international civil society groups as well as domestic social organizations. The company has even partnered with the United Nations. It receives its funding primarily from international philanthropic foundations, and supports other, smaller organizations across China.

Each year, the organization publishes a directory of AIDS organizations in China. Over the past few years, the number of organizations listed has grown dramatically. A decade ago, NGOs avoided inter-organizational cooperation, as they routinely competed for operating space and legitimacy. Increasingly, however, public health advocacy groups, like the one under discussion, actively seek networking opportunities. While Chinese officials are still uneasy about NGOs generally, they also recognize that in some cases they provide essential services that the state is not now providing.

Along with donations from individuals and grants from international foundations, some organizations will accept government support. As such, they gain a bit more protection from arbitrary government interference (or worse), while at the same time, the government gains in having more insight into what the organizations are doing. As the example of the specific organization under discussion suggests, the concept of “public” and “private” are not especially helpful at times in analyzing China’s NGO landscape.

I. NGOs in China: An Overview
II. Classifying Chinese NGOs
III. The Influence of NGOs on Chinese Society
IV. Alexis De Tocqueville on Civic Associations
V. NGO Cooperation in China: The View from the Ground
VI. NGOs and China's Citizen Movement