Understanding legal and regulatory compliance for NGOs1

Skill-labs are part of ISDM’s efforts to build sector-wide capacities in compliance and governance. They are designed as case-led, peer-learning sessions featuring sector practitioners and domain experts. This video is a recording of experience led disucssion that is a comprehensive FAQ-style guide to legal and regulatory compliance for non-profit organizations in India. It addresses key frameworks like Section 12AB, Section 80G, GST, and FCRA, explaining their significance and the common challenges NGOs face. The guide highlights the increased scrutiny and evolving donor expectations within the sector, and it emphasizes that compliance is crucial for maintaining credibility and securing funding. It also covers common pitfalls, such as failing to distinguish between foreign and domestic contributions or overlooking state-level labor laws.

Understanding legal and regulatory compliance for NGOs

Skill-labs are part of ISDM’s efforts to build sector-wide capacities in compliance and governance. They are designed as case-led, peer-learning sessions featuring sector practitioners and domain experts. This document serves as a comprehensive FAQ-style guide to legal and regulatory compliance for non-profit organizations in India. It addresses key frameworks like Section 12AB, Section 80G, GST, and FCRA, explaining their significance and the common challenges NGOs face. The guide highlights the increased scrutiny and evolving donor expectations within the sector, and it emphasizes that compliance is crucial for maintaining credibility and securing funding. It also covers common pitfalls, such as failing to distinguish between foreign and domestic contributions or overlooking state-level labor laws.

Strengthening Internal Financial Controls & Preventing Mismanagement 1

Skill-labs are part of ISDM’s efforts to build sector-wide capacities in compliance and governance. They are designed as case-led, peer-learning sessions featuring sector practitioners and domain experts. This video is an expert discussion around strengthening internal financial controls and preventing mismanagement in non-profit organizations. It emphasizes that financial controls are essential for ensuring accountability, preventing fraud, and building credibility with donors and regulators. The report differentiates between financial systems and controls, identifies the three main types of controls (operational, financial, and compliance), and highlights that effective implementation is more about organizational culture and discipline than cost. It also outlines the collective responsibility of the board, management, and staff in upholding financial integrity.

Strengthening Internal Financial Controls & Preventing Mismanagement

Skill-labs are part of ISDM’s efforts to build sector-wide capacities in compliance and governance. They are designed as case-led, peer-learning sessions featuring sector practitioners and domain experts. This document provides a Q&A-style guide on strengthening internal financial controls and preventing mismanagement in non-profit organizations. It emphasizes that financial controls are essential for ensuring accountability, preventing fraud, and building credibility with donors and regulators. The report differentiates between financial systems and controls, identifies the three main types of controls (operational, financial, and compliance), and highlights that effective implementation is more about organizational culture and discipline than cost. It also outlines the collective responsibility of the board, management, and staff in upholding financial integrity.

Grant Management and Donor Reporting – Best Practices1

Skill-labs are part of ISDM’s efforts to build sector-wide capacities in compliance and governance. They are designed as case-led, peer-learning sessions featuring sector practitioners and domain experts. This video is an expert discussion around grant management and donor reporting best practices for Social Purpose Organizations (SPOs). It addresses common challenges, such as the administrative burden and high costs of compliance, by providing a step-by-step roadmap for building robust systems. The document covers critical topics like ensuring accountability, structuring effective reports, and developing a collaborative relationship with donors. It emphasizes that a focus on transparency, timely communication, and outcome-oriented reporting can transform compliance from a burden into a strategic advantage, strengthening donor trust and securing long-term funding.

Grant Management and Donor Reporting – Best Practices

Skill-labs are part of ISDM’s efforts to build sector-wide capacities in compliance and governance. They are designed as case-led, peer-learning sessions featuring sector practitioners and domain experts. This FAQ document offers a comprehensive guide on grant management and donor reporting best practices for Social Purpose Organizations (SPOs). It addresses common challenges, such as the administrative burden and high costs of compliance, by providing a step-by-step roadmap for building robust systems. The document covers critical topics like ensuring accountability, structuring effective reports, and developing a collaborative relationship with donors. It emphasizes that a focus on transparency, timely communication, and outcome-oriented reporting can transform compliance from a burden into a strategic advantage, strengthening donor trust and securing long-term funding.

Skill-labs: CSR Funding for NGOs – Compliance and Collaboration1

Skill-labs are part of ISDM’s efforts to build sector-wide capacities in compliance and governance. They are designed as case-led, peer-learning sessions featuring sector practitioners and domain experts. This video is an expert discussion that provides guidance for NGOs on securing CSR funding from corporate partners. It emphasizes that compliance is foundational, not just for legal purposes, but also for building credibility and trust with companies. The document addresses common challenges, such as the need for specific compliance certificates, and offers solutions like proactive communication, transparent reporting with data-backed outcomes, and financial transparency. It also provides best practices for identifying the right CSR funders, navigating partnerships, and initiating first-time outreach to corporates, highlighting the importance of building relationships beyond just seeking monetary support.

Skill-labs: CSR Funding for NGOs – Compliance and Collaboration

These are part of ISDM’s efforts to build sector-wide capacities in compliance and governance. They are designed as case-led, peer-learning sessions featuring sector practitioners and domain experts. This FAQ document provides guidance for NGOs on securing CSR funding from corporate partners. It emphasizes that compliance is foundational, not just for legal purposes, but also for building credibility and trust with companies. The document addresses common challenges, such as the need for specific compliance certificates, and offers solutions like proactive communication, transparent reporting with data-backed outcomes, and financial transparency. It also provides best practices for identifying the right CSR funders, navigating partnerships, and initiating first-time outreach to corporates, highlighting the importance of building relationships beyond just seeking monetary support.

Compliance and Good Governance FAQ Handbook

This FAQ Handbook, developed by the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM), is a practical guide for small and mid-sized Social Purpose Organizations (SPOs) on governance and compliance. It is a compilation of real-time questions from practitioners, providing a solution-oriented reference document. The handbook is structured around four critical areas of compliance: Statutory and Regulatory, Financial, Donor and Fundraising, and Operational. It addresses common dilemmas and recurring queries to help SPOs navigate the complex landscape of legal and ethical requirements, ultimately aiming to build institutional clarity, strengthen decision-making, and promote a culture of proactive compliance.

Occupational Standards Framework

The Occupational Standards Frameworkis a role-based competency tooldeveloped by ISDM to support the professionalisation and strengthening of the Development Managementecosystem in India. It is a structured approach designed to help development sector organisations define, assess, and strengthen the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required for various roles and functions within the sector. It serves as a roadmap for organisations to build internal capacity, align team competencies with organisational goals, and promote professional developmentacross different levels.
We use essential and analytics cookies to operate this website and understand how visitors interact with it. As this site also functions as a login identity provider (IDP) for other ISDM portals, some cookies are necessary to enable secure authentication. By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.