The conference document and resolutions may suggest new international institutions or other ways of dealing with the issue. It and any resolutions adopted at the conference are taken up at the UN General Assembly or by UN specialized agencies for action. In the United States, NGOs are more commonly described as private, non-profit, or voluntary organizations. The NGO forum is usually open to everyone. It is intended to provide a structured meeting place for persons and groups interested in the subject matter of the government conference.
Some groups hold workshops.
NGOs must finance their own events and participation. The forum takes no official action. It is primarily an information exchange, spirited debate, networking, and organizing opportunity. Although there is no formal interchange between the forum and the delegations to the government conference, the two events can and do influence each other. The conference document, while drafted and debated in advance, is a working document that may be amended.