NFN is an umbrella organization of NGOs working in various fields of social welfare and development. Established in 1991 for the promotion and protection of social justice, human rights and pro-poor development, NFN has evolved as a national organization working for the entire NGO movement in Nepal. It is actively working to unite, organize and mobilise civil society to create a peaceful, democratic and just Nepal.

NFN is a democratic organization run by a team of NGO professionals who volunteer their services to achieve the vision of NFN.

The Executive Committee is comprised of 32 members. Among them 31 are democratically elected members, including a president, a vice-president, a general secretary, a secretary and a treasurer. Immediate past president is the ex officio member of the committee. Among the 31 members, 5 are elected as regional representatives and 10 as women representatives. All the members of the central and regional committees are experienced and established personalities in NGO management. The Executive Committee meets every three months.

NFN is an autonomous, independent and politically non-partisan organization, governed by its own Constitution, amended last in 2002. It has prepared and enforced an NGO Code of Conduct (CoC) to increase the accountability and transparency of NGOs. The CoC has been widely disseminated to member NGOs and efforts are on-going in relation to implementation and compliance.

NFN has about 4,500 member NGOs affiliated to it through 75 district chapters. To coordinate and mobilise its member NGOs to carry out various programmes effectively and efficiently, NFN has five regional committees comprised of 7–9 members each, one in each development region. Together, they work as a regional catalyst to support member organizations in leadership and professional skills development, and to enable them to face the challenges of sustainable development.

NFN follows a highly participatory approach in the delivery and implementation of its services. Its focus is on qualitative capacity building of local member NGOs and, in particular, on improving their management, governance, skills and competencies.