NGO, Trust & CSR Registration — Built to Actually Attract Funding, Not Just Exist Legally
Quick answer: Register your structure (Trust/Society/Section 8), then NGO Darpan (free, ~7-10 days), then 12A (tax exemption for the NGO) and 80G (tax deduction for donors) via Form 10A. Add CSR-1 to receive corporate CSR funds, and FCRA only if you'll receive foreign contributions — that one needs 3 years' track record and Rs 15 lakh in documented spend first.
The registration sequence — and what each one unlocks
- Choose the structure. Trust, Society, or Section 8 Company — decided by how you'll operate and fund, not by which is fastest to file.
- NGO Darpan (NITI Aayog). Free, ~7-10 working days — generates the ID that later registrations and many donors will ask for.
- 12A registration. Exempts your NGO's income from tax when used for charitable purposes — filed via Form 10A on the Income Tax portal.
- 80G registration. Lets your donors claim a tax deduction on their contribution — usually processed alongside 12A, and often the deciding factor for a hesitant corporate or individual donor.
- CSR-1 (MCA). Unlocks corporate CSR funding specifically — without this filing, a company legally cannot route CSR money to you, no matter how willing they are.
- FCRA, only if needed. For foreign contributions — requires 3 years' existence and ₹15 lakh in documented core-activity spend, a dedicated SBI FCRA account, and runs 90-120 working days. We flag this early if foreign funding is part of your plan, since the eligibility clock only starts once you meet the track record.
Who this is for
New NGOs setting up the full compliance stack before their first funding round, and established NGOs adding CSR-1 or FCRA as they scale — across Delhi-NCR and Bihar, with portal-based filing for organisations anywhere in India. Registering as a Section 8 company? The process shares ground with our Udyam and MSME registration work.
Building an NGO that funders can actually say yes to?
Frequently asked questions
Should I register as a Trust, Society, or Section 8 Company?
It depends on how you'll operate: a Trust suits a small, founder-led charitable purpose; a Society fits a membership-based organisation with a managing committee; a Section 8 Company suits larger NGOs wanting a corporate structure, easier bank/donor trust, and cleaner CSR eligibility. We assess your actual activities and funding plans before recommending one, since converting later is far more work than choosing correctly at the start.
What's the difference between 12A and 80G registration?
12A exempts your NGO's own income from income tax, provided it's used for charitable purposes. 80G is what benefits your donors — it lets them claim a tax deduction (typically 50%) on what they give you, which is often the single biggest driver of individual and corporate donations. Both are filed via Form 10A on the Income Tax e-filing portal and are generally valid for 5 years, needing renewal before expiry.
Do I need FCRA registration?
Only if you intend to receive foreign contributions — domestic donations, government grants, and CSR funding don't require it. FCRA registration (Ministry of Home Affairs) needs your NGO to have existed for at least 3 years with a minimum of Rs 15 lakh spent on core charitable activities, plus a dedicated FCRA bank account (mandatorily with SBI's designated branch) kept separate from your regular account. Approval typically takes 90-120 working days, so this isn't something to start once foreign funding is already on the table.
What is CSR-1 and why does it matter for funding?
Form CSR-1, filed with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, is mandatory before an NGO can receive CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) funds from companies — it generates a unique CSR Registration Number that corporate donors will ask for. Without it, even a willing corporate funder legally cannot route CSR money to you.
What is NGO Darpan and is it mandatory?
NGO Darpan is a free registration on NITI Aayog's portal that generates a unique ID — it's required for accessing central government grant schemes and is increasingly asked for by CSR donors and crowdfunding platforms too, even when not strictly mandatory for that specific channel. It's typically the first registration we complete, since several later steps reference the Darpan ID.
What documents do I need ready before 12A/80G registration?
Your registration certificate (trust deed, society bylaws, or Section 8 incorporation), PAN, financial statements if you've been operating more than a year, notes on your activities and objectives, and NGO Darpan details if already registered. Missing or inconsistent documents are the most common cause of processing delays here.