NGO FAQs

How can I seek information about Support/Training Organisations and Resource Persons?
What criteria does ISF use to put an NGO on its recommended list?
What is the function of the message board?
How to register an NGO
How to make Project Proposals

How can I seek information about Funding/Support/Training Organisations and Resource Persons?

ISF has a comprehensive search engine for easy access to the NGOs list. By clicking on the NGOs list, donors can select an NGO they wish to support either by name or by selecting one or more of the listed parameters such as: cause, geographical area, the ISF recommended list or the ISF general list. NGOs can access information regarding Funding Organisation, Support Organisation, Training Agencies, or a list of Resource Persons by clicking on the appropriate category.

What criteria does ISF use to put an NGO on its recommended list?

ISF has very stringent criteria for selection which include:

• Registered non-profit organisation
• Committed people with clearly stated aims and objectives
• Transparency, Accountability and Scalability
• Who work with marginalised groups
• Proven track record
• Non-discriminatory approach

What is the function of your message board?
Our message board allows NGOs, individuals and corporates to post their information/experiences/ideas/events for others to access.

How to register an NGO

Registration of Society

Place of Registration
The registration of a society is to be done under the Act wherever obtaining the registration and not in the State where the benefit is claimed. Once the person proposing to form a society has decided upon the name of the society and has prepared drafts of Memorandum and Rules and Regulations of the society, procedure adopted in following paragraphs may be adopted for getting the society registered.

Signing of Memorandum of Association
All the subscribers (minimum seven) should sign each page of the memorandum and the signatures should be witnessed by either an Oath Commissioner, Notary Public (Rs. 3/- Notarial stamp duty affixed), Gazetted Officer, Advocate, Chartered Accountant or 1st Class Magistrate with their rubber / official stamp and complete address.
Persons desirous of forming a society should also become members of the first governing body. An outsider cannot become member of the governing body in the first instance.

Signature on Rules and Regulations
The Rules should be signed by atleast three members of the governing body. Following certificate should be given at the end of the rules and regulations: ""Certified that this is the correct copy of rules and regulations of the Society"".
File the required documents with the Registrar of Societies
Following papers should be filed with the Registrar of Societies for registration of a society under the principal Act or corresponding Acts enacted by various State Governments:

• Covering letter requesting for registration stating in the body of letter various documents annexed to it. It should be signed by all the subscribers to the memorandum or by a person authorised by all of them to sign on their behalf
• Memorandum of Association in duplicate along with a certified copy (as per Sec. 3 of the Principal Act). It should be neatly typed and pages serially numbered
• Rules and Regulations / Bye-laws in duplicate duly signed
• Affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper of appropriate value sworn by the President or Secretary of the Society stating relationship between the subscribers. The affidavit should be attested by an Oath Commissioner, Notary Public (Rs 3 Notarial Stamp affixed) or Ist Class Magistrate.
• Documentary proof such as House Tax receipt, rent receipt in respect of premises shown as Registered Office of the society or no objection certificate from the owner of the premises

Registration Fee
Normally fee of Rs 50/- is payable as registration fee of a society and it should accompany the request for registration payable in cash or by Demand Draft. In Union Territory of Delhi the Registrar intimates the applicant society by a letter stating that all the formalities have been completed and the documents filed are acceptable. The applicant society is required to deposit the registration fee after receipt of this letter. Formalities of registration and requirement of documents etc. may differ slightly from State to State. The applicants may, therefore, contact in advance the Registrar of Societies having jurisdiction.

Following table shows the Fees Payable under the Principal Act or State Amendments or Independent Acts of States for Registration of a Society.

Registration Certificate
On receiving the documents mentioned above the Registrar shall satisfy himself about the compliance of the provisions of the Act and correctness in his hand that the society is registered under the Principal Act 1860 or other corresponding Acts.

Presumption of Registration
Presumption that the society was duly registered under the Act arises not on the Certificate of Registration granted by the Registrar but on the copies of the Rules and Regulations and Memorandum certified under Sec. 19 which constitutes them prima facie evidence of the matters therein contained.

How to make Project Proposal


Most organisations have a specific format. However, there are some details that will be required in almost any proposal. These include:

• Background
  A brief on what was the motivation for the project.
• The Objective
  Briefly mention what is hoped to be achieved by the project.
• The Method
  Details on how the project would be implemented. This should be in clear concise steps.
• The Time Frame
  A detailed break up of the activities on a month to month basis.
• The Number of Beneficiaries
  The Funding agency would need to know how many people would benefit from the project.
• The Budget
  This should include a break up of the funds required and at what intervals. It should also specify on the number of personnel to be employed.A distinction needs to be made between those working on the project and those on administration.
• Sustainability
  The proposal needs to illustrate how the project is feasible and will become self sustaining after the aid is withdrawn.
• Executive Summary
  Generally after working out the project proposal in detail, a brief of the project, called an executive summary, is made and attached with the covering letter to the funding organisation.