Registration to Funding Support

• Structure advisory — guidance on choosing Trust, Society, or Section 8 for your specific objectives
• Trust deed / MOA preparation and registration / incorporation
• PAN card application for the organisation
• Provisional 12A and 80G application (Form 10A)
• NGO Darpan registration and Darpan ID generation
• CSR-1 registration on MCA portal
• First annual compliance: ITR-7 filing + Form 10B coordination + Darpan update
• One funding proposal (CSR or government scheme) included in the package
• Dedicated relationship manager throughout the journey
• FCRA application assistance when the organisation becomes eligible (3-year milestone)

Q: What is the typical total cost of taking an NGO from zero to full funding readiness?
Total professional fees (excluding government filing fees and stamp duties) for the complete journey from formation to first grant application typically range from Rs.25,000–Rs.60,000 depending on structure choice, state of registration, and number of services included. MFiling's bundled package offers significant savings over engaging individual services separately.

Q: How soon after formation can an NGO start receiving donations?
An NGO can receive Indian donations immediately after formation. However, donors can claim 80G deductions only after the provisional 80G approval is obtained (typically 30–45 days after formation). Corporate CSR grants require CSR-1 registration (another 7–15 days). International/foreign donations require FCRA registration, which takes 6–18 months after 3 years of operational history.

The single most important decision in the NGO formation journey is choosing the right legal structure — and most founders make this decision without fully understanding the trade-offs. The choice between a Public Charitable Trust, Registered Society, and Section 8 Company determines your regulatory obligations for decades, affects your ability to attract certain types of funding, and impacts your governance flexibility. MFiling provides structure advisory as the first step in every NGO formation engagement.

MFiling recommends Section 8 Company for NGOs targeting significant corporate CSR funding, FCRA registration, or national-level operations. Trust structure is recommended for smaller, founder-driven organisations with limited regulatory appetite.