An alternative trading organization (ATO) is usually a non-governmental organization (NGO) or mission-driven business aligned with the fair trade movement aiming "to contribute to the alleviation of poverty in developing regions of the world by establishing a system of trade that allows marginalized producers in developing regions to gain access to developed markets". Alternative trading organizations have fair trade at the core of their mission and activities, using it as a development tool to support disadvantaged producers and reduce poverty and to combine their marketing with awareness-raising and campaigning.