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Frequently Asked Questions - general
How many international organizations there are will depend on your criteria and methods for counting them. The Yearbook of International Organizations maintains statistics on the number of organizations listed that meets its criteria (see Types of Organization in the Yearbook for precise information on these criteria).
This is a complex question. Without further refinement, it is almost impossible to answer concretely. One avenue of investigation is to examine the specifics of a single organization (or small group of organizations). Helpful documentation is usually available from an organization in the form of annual reports or histories/overviews produced on significant anniversaries (eg. 25 years of...).
IGOs are in most cases created through international treaties or agreements. There is no single formal procedure for registering international NGOs however, and several different approaches tend to be adopted, whether singly or together. The following is a (by no means exhaustive) list of some main ways that international organizations are registered or recognized.
This is determined by the statutes or by-laws of each specific organization. You should contact an organization directly (or view the membership information on their website) for more information on requirements. An overview is available in the International Association Statutes Series, Volume 1, edited by the UIA.
Extensive data on the location of members and secretariats of international organizations is presented in the Yearbook of International Organizations (Volume 2 of the hardcover edition).
There is no easy answer to this question. Circumstances will probably dictate that the secretariat be located in a place convenient to the most active participants -- or in some cases as part of an office of a national member. The consequent workload, and any political pressure, may also lead to periodic rotation of the secretariat amongst members in different locations.
Be aware of the fact that many organizations do not necessarily welcome unsolicited inquiries, especially relating to proposals for commercial services. Some of them are essentially closed membership groups and see no need whatsoever for communication from external bodies. They may attempt to remove themselves from mailing lists for this reason.
Be aware also that international organizations are the subject of many surveys, whether for scholarly or commercial services -- or even from intergovernmental organizations. They therefore receive a multitude of questionnaires, which they are often unable to answer with limited staff, even if they were willing to do so.
Be aware that many international organizations receive requests for funding, even when they do not take the form of a foundation and do not offer subsidies. Most international organizations work under severe budget constraints. Often they do not even have the personnel to be able to acknowledge receipt of such requests.