Connect2NGO: An Integrated Digital Platform to Enhance Transparency and Collaboration in the NGO Sector

Abstract

This paper presents Connect2NGO, a comprehensive digital platform designed to bridge the gap between Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), donors, and volunteers through a unified, transparent, and technology-driven ecosystem. The Indian NGO landscape often struggles with fragmented communication, low visibility, and a lack of donor trust. Connect2NGO addresses these challenges by creating an integrated environment that enhances transparency, accountability, and collaboration within the social sector. Developed using the Iterative SDLC model, the platform employs a Java Spring Boot backend, MySQL database, and a Thymeleaf-based responsive frontend. It integrates modular functionalities for NGOs, donors, volunteers, and administrators—allowing NGOs to create campaigns, manage events, and share detailed fund utilization reports, while enabling donors and volunteers to discover verified causes, make secure contributions, and participate in social initiatives.The system ensures data integrity and security through JWT-based authentication and role-based access control, fostering greater trust and transparency. Testing results validate the platform’s scalability, usability, and efficiency, with high user satisfaction in terms of navigation, responsiveness, and information clarity. By combining robust architecture with intuitive UI/UX principles, Connect2NGO represents a significant step toward the digital transformation of social good initiatives in India.

Introduction

Connect2NGO is a technology-driven platform designed to address critical challenges in the NGO sector, including fragmented communication, low visibility, limited transparency, and inefficient volunteer and fund management. By creating a centralized digital ecosystem, the platform connects verified NGOs with donors and volunteers, enabling campaign management, secure donations, real-time impact tracking, and volunteer engagement.

Built using Java Spring Boot, MySQL, and Thymeleaf, Connect2NGO incorporates role-based access control, JWT authentication, and modular architecture to ensure security, scalability, and ease of use. The system emphasizes trust and transparency, providing automated fund tracking, verified NGO registration, and clear reporting mechanisms to increase donor confidence and stakeholder collaboration.

Grounded in literature on digital transformation, transparency, and donor-recipient engagement, the platform addresses shortcomings of the existing NGO ecosystem—fragmented communication, low visibility, and inefficient resource mobilization—by offering a unified, secure, and user-friendly interface. Connect2NGO thus represents a transformative approach to digital empowerment, fostering accountability, collaboration, and measurable social impact in the non-profit sector.

Conclusion

The development of Connect2NGO demonstrates how digital transformation can significantly enhance the efficiency, transparency, and trustworthiness of the non-profit ecosystem. By integrating modern web technologies into a centralized, user-centric platform, Connect2NGO effectively bridges the long-standing communication and trust gap between Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), donors, and volunteers. Through its modular architecture, secure authentication mechanisms, and intuitive user interface, the system provides a seamless experience for all stakeholders. NGOs gain the ability to manage campaigns, track funds, and report their progress with ease; donors and volunteers benefit from real-time visibility, verified programs, and secure transactions. This not only streamlines social resource mobilization but also enhances confidence in the integrity of charitable processes. Furthermore, the system’s emphasis on accountability, scalability, and usability positions it as a sustainable digital solution capable of evolving with the growing demands of the social sector. The integration of transparent reporting and role-based access ensures that every interaction within the ecosystem remains credible and verifiable. In conclusion, Connect2NGO stands as a pivotal step toward the digital empowerment of social good initiatives. By leveraging technology to strengthen collaboration and accountability, it lays the foundation for a more connected, transparent, and impactful future in the non-profit domain. The platform’s success reaffirms the potential of digital innovation to transform the way communities, organizations, and individuals come together to drive meaningful change.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Manoj Chaudhari, Kajal Jain, Aditya Awaze, Nayan Khapre, Shashank Bhanarkar, Sumit Waghmare. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.