Classification of non-governmental organisations in modern legal scholarship: Towards a multidimensional model for digital governance

Abstract

The classification of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is not merely a taxonomic exercise: the categories used by legal scholarship, public registers, statistical systems and funding platforms shape how civil society is described and governed. This article re-examines Ukrainian scholarly classifications of NGOs against the current Law of Ukraine „On Public Associations” and international statistical standards. Using doctrinal legal analysis, comparative classification analysis and conceptual modelling, it identifies three recurring problems in legacy typologies: reliance on repealed statutory criteria; conflation of legal status, membership and beneficiary orientation; and treatment of funding sources as a direct proxy for organisational autonomy. Particular attention is paid to the transition from the International Classification of Non-profit Organizations (ICNPO) to the United Nations International Classification of Non-profit and Third Sector Organizations (ICNP/TSO). The article proposes a multidimensional model based on four analytical axes: primary functional/economic activity, operational reach, beneficiary or constituency orientation, and resource/funding profile. Legal attributes, including legal-person status and all-Ukrainian status under Ukrainian law, are treated as a separate legal overlay rather than as substitutes for analytical classification. The model is further translated into a machine-readable metadata structure suitable for digital public registers, statistical systems and funding portals. Its practical value lies in enabling more accurate comparison and governance while avoiding the assumption that any single category determines an organisation’s independence, legitimacy or regulatory treatment.