Free online CSR eligibility checker. Answer a few simple questions to find out if your company is required to comply with CSR rules under Section 135 of the Companies Act.
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CSR Eligibility Checker: Check Your NGO’s CSR Readiness Online
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can be a major source of funding for eligible NGOs, trusts, societies and other implementing agencies. However, simply being a registered NGO does not automatically mean that an organisation is ready to receive or implement CSR projects.
Companies that undertake CSR activities are required to follow the framework prescribed under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 and the Companies (CSR Policy) Rules. For an NGO to work as a CSR implementing agency, several legal, registration, compliance, documentation and operational requirements may need to be satisfied.
This is why checking your organisation’s CSR readiness before approaching companies can save time and help identify potential gaps.
The CSR Eligibility Checker available at https://ngotrust.in/csr-eligibility-checker/ is designed to help NGOs assess their current position by answering questions related to important CSR requirements.
What Is CSR Readiness?
CSR readiness means how prepared an NGO or implementing organisation is to undertake CSR-funded projects in accordance with applicable requirements.
A company looking for an NGO partner may want confidence that the organisation has the appropriate registrations, documentation, governance structure, financial records, project experience and systems needed to implement and report on CSR activities.
For certain categories of implementing agencies, the CSR framework includes requirements relating to registrations such as 12A and 80G and registration through the MCA21 portal using CSR-1.
Who Should Use a CSR Eligibility Checker?
The CSR Eligibility Checker can be useful for:
- Registered public charitable trusts
- Registered societies
- Section 8 companies
- NGOs working in education and healthcare
- Organisations working in rural development and livelihood
- Women empowerment and child welfare organisations
- Environmental and sustainability organisations
- Skill development organisations
- NGOs planning to approach companies for CSR funding
- Organisations wanting to identify potential CSR compliance gaps
The purpose of the checker is not simply to determine whether an NGO is registered. It provides a broader CSR readiness assessment based on questions related to important CSR requirements.
Why Are 12A and 80G Important for CSR?
For several categories of implementing agencies, 12A and 80G are important requirements under the CSR framework.
An eligible registered public trust, society or Section 8 company may need the applicable income-tax registrations to act as a CSR implementing agency, subject to the specific provisions and exceptions under the CSR Rules.
This means an NGO should not assume that its basic registration certificate alone is sufficient for every CSR-related purpose.
What Is CSR-1?
CSR-1 is another important part of CSR readiness for eligible implementing agencies.
Under the CSR Rules, entities covered by the relevant implementing-agency provisions are required to register with the Central Government by filing Form CSR-1.
After successful filing and verification, a unique CSR Registration Number is generated. Therefore, CSR-1 status is an important factor when evaluating an eligible NGO’s readiness to work on CSR projects.
Does Every Large Company Have to Spend on CSR?
No. CSR provisions apply when a company satisfies the prescribed thresholds during the immediately preceding financial year.
The CSR framework applies to companies meeting any one of the prescribed criteria, including:
- Net worth of ₹500 crore or more
- Turnover of ₹1,000 crore or more
- Net profit of ₹5 crore or more
What Questions Does the CSR Eligibility Checker Ask?
The CSR Eligibility Checker uses a series of questions related to factors that can influence an organisation’s CSR readiness.
1. Organisation Registration
The type and status of the organisation can be important. The assessment considers whether the NGO operates as a trust, society, Section 8 company or another type of organisation.
2. 12A Registration
The assessment considers whether the organisation has the relevant 12A registration applicable to its circumstances.
3. 80G Registration
80G status is relevant for several categories of organisations and is therefore an important factor when assessing CSR readiness.
4. CSR-1 Registration
The checker considers whether the organisation has completed the applicable CSR-1 registration and obtained its CSR Registration Number.
5. Track Record and Experience
For certain categories of implementing agencies, the CSR Rules refer to an established track record of at least three years in undertaking similar activities.
6. Documentation and Compliance
CSR partnerships require more than a registration certificate. Companies may conduct due diligence before selecting an implementing agency. Maintaining updated organisational, financial, statutory and project-related documentation can therefore improve an NGO’s preparedness.
7. Project Capability
An NGO should also consider whether it has the practical ability to implement projects in areas covered by the CSR framework.
Why Use a CSR Readiness Checker?
Many NGOs start searching for CSR funding before checking whether their organisation is properly prepared.
This can create avoidable problems. An NGO may have excellent social work but discover during corporate due diligence that an important registration, CSR-1 status, document or compliance requirement is missing.
A CSR readiness assessment helps identify such potential gaps earlier.
“Are we properly prepared to approach companies for CSR projects?”
How Does the CSR Eligibility Checker Work?
- Visit the CSR Eligibility Checker.
- Answer the questions based on your organisation’s actual status.
- Review the assessment based on your answers.
- Identify areas where your organisation may need attention.
- Take appropriate steps before approaching potential CSR partners.
What Should You Do After the Assessment?
If the assessment identifies potential gaps, review those areas before approaching multiple companies.
Depending on the organisation’s circumstances, this could include completing applicable registrations, obtaining or updating documentation, filing CSR-1, strengthening accounting and reporting systems, maintaining evidence of previous projects or improving internal compliance processes.
Once the organisation is properly prepared, it can develop a strong CSR proposal describing the project, beneficiaries, objectives, implementation plan, budget, expected outcomes, monitoring mechanism and reporting process.
Frequently Asked Questions About CSR Eligibility
1. What is a CSR Eligibility Checker?
A CSR Eligibility Checker is an online assessment tool that asks questions related to an NGO’s registration, 12A, 80G, CSR-1, experience, compliance and other CSR-related requirements. It helps an organisation understand its overall CSR readiness before approaching companies for CSR projects.
2. Can every NGO receive CSR funding?
No. Being registered as an NGO does not automatically make an organisation eligible to act as a CSR implementing agency. Depending on the organisation type and applicable rules, requirements may include relevant registrations, CSR-1 registration, tax registrations, track record and other compliance conditions.
3. Is 12A required for CSR?
For certain categories of CSR implementing agencies, applicable 12A registration is an important requirement. The exact requirements depend on the entity type and applicable provisions of the CSR Rules.
4. Is 80G required for CSR?
80G registration is an important requirement for several categories of organisations seeking to act as CSR implementing agencies. However, eligibility can depend on the organisation’s legal structure and the specific provisions applicable to it.
5. What is CSR-1 registration?
CSR-1 is the registration process through which eligible implementing agencies register with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for CSR implementation. Successful registration results in a unique CSR Registration Number.
6. Is CSR-1 mandatory for NGOs?
CSR-1 is applicable to organisations that fall within the categories of implementing agencies covered by the CSR Rules. Therefore, an NGO should assess its legal structure and applicable CSR provisions before determining its compliance requirements.
7. Does an NGO need three years of experience for CSR projects?
For certain implementing agencies, the CSR Rules refer to an established track record of at least three years in undertaking similar activities. The requirement should be considered based on the organisation’s category and applicable provisions.
8. What documents should an NGO keep ready for CSR funding?
An NGO should maintain updated organisational and compliance documents, which may include its registration certificate, 12A and 80G documents where applicable, CSR-1 details, PAN, governing documents, financial records, annual reports, project reports, bank details and evidence of previous activities.
9. Does passing the CSR Eligibility Checker guarantee CSR funding?
No. The CSR Eligibility Checker is a readiness assessment tool and does not guarantee CSR funding or approval by any company. Corporate CSR funding decisions depend on factors such as project relevance, due diligence, organisational credibility, CSR priorities, budget, implementation capacity and the company’s internal selection process.
10. How can I check whether my NGO is CSR-ready?
You can use the CSR Eligibility Checker to answer questions related to your organisation’s registration, tax status, CSR-1, experience, documentation and other CSR-related requirements.
Check Your CSR Eligibility Now →
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CSR funding can provide valuable opportunities for organisations working for social development, but corporate partnerships require credibility, compliance, transparency and implementation capacity.
Before approaching companies, take a few minutes to understand where your organisation currently stands.
Use the CSR Eligibility Checker to answer questions related to CSR requirements and assess your organisation’s readiness.
Check Your CSR Eligibility & Readiness →
A simple assessment today can help you identify potential compliance gaps, prepare better documentation and approach CSR opportunities with greater confidence.
Check your CSR readiness before you approach corporates.