CSR funding for NGO groups is money a company gives for a social project under its Corporate Social Responsibility duty. It is not a grant scheme run by the government, and there is no single office that hands it out. This page is an independent guide, not a government website and not linked to any company. It explains the rules, what companies look for and how to approach them without paying anyone a "facilitation fee".
CSR funding meaning: what is CSR funding in India
CSR stands for Corporate Social Responsibility. In Hindi people ask "CSR funding kya hai"; the simple answer is: company paisa for social work, spent under a law. Section 135 of the Companies Act says that companies above certain size limits must form a CSR committee and spend at least 2 percent of their average net profit of the three previous financial years on CSR.
The board of the company decides where that money goes, on the advice of its CSR committee. The law asks companies to prefer the local areas where they operate. The government does not pick NGOs for companies and does not collect CSR money from states. So CSR funding in India is, in practice, a relationship between one company and one implementing partner.
How CSR funding for NGO projects works under Schedule VII
A company can only count spending as CSR if it falls under Schedule VII of the Companies Act. The broad areas include:
| Schedule VII area (simplified) | Typical NGO projects |
|---|---|
| Hunger, poverty, health care, sanitation, safe drinking water | Nutrition drives, health camps, toilets, water units |
| Education, special education, vocational skills, livelihood | Learning centres, skill training, digital literacy |
| Gender equality, women's empowerment, care of children, older people and persons with disability | Shelters, self-help groups, day care, old age care |
| Environment, animal welfare, conservation of natural resources | Tree planting, waste work, water conservation |
| Heritage, art and culture | Restoration, folk art, public libraries |
| Benefits for armed forces veterans and their families | Welfare and support for war widows |
| Sports training | Rural, national and Paralympic sports |
| Rural development and slum area development | Village infrastructure, community centres |
| Disaster management | Relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction |
| Subscription to zero coupon zero principal instruments on the Social Stock Exchange | Added recently; capped as a share of a company's CSR spend |
The full list also names some government funds and research bodies. Read the exact wording on the MCA site before you label a project. Work that only benefits a company's own staff, or that is part of its normal business, does not count as CSR.
About CSR funding and the social stock exchange: a registered not for profit body can list zero coupon zero principal instruments under SEBI rules, and companies can now count subscriptions as CSR within the limit. This route has its own rules and is not the same as a direct CSR grant.
What companies check before they fund an NGO
Company CSR teams have to report every rupee in their CSR filings, so they check partners closely. Expect these questions:
- CSR-1 registration number. An implementing agency must be registered with MCA. See CSR-1 registration.
- 12A and 80G. Needed for CSR-1 in most cases. See 12A and 80G registration.
- Track record. At least three years in similar work, unless a company set you up.
- NGO Darpan ID. Many companies and banks ask for it. See Darpan ID.
- Clean audited accounts and annual reports for recent years.
- Capacity to report: who will track outputs, photos, bills and beneficiary records.
- Location fit: projects near the company's plants or offices often get priority.
Your legal form matters less than your paperwork. A trust, society or section 8 company can all do CSR work. If you are still choosing, read trust vs society vs section 8.
Where companies publish their CSR policies
You do not need a paid list of CSR funding companies in India. Public sources tell you who spends on what:
- Company websites: companies with a website must show their CSR policy, the members of their CSR committee and the projects the board approved.
- Annual report: the board's report has an annual report on CSR with projects, amounts and impact assessment details.
- National CSR Portal (csr.gov.in): MCA publishes CSR spending data filed by companies, which you can explore by state and development sector.
Use these to shortlist companies whose focus area and districts match yours. This page itself gives no company names or lists, by design.
How to get CSR funding for NGO and trust projects
There is no "online apply for CSR funding in India" button on any government site. Each company runs its own process. Some invite proposals at set times; others work only with partners they find. A sensible path:
- Finish CSR-1, 12A, 80G and NGO Darpan registration.
- Pick one or two Schedule VII areas where you have real results.
- Shortlist companies from their CSR policies and the national portal data.
- Write to the CSR contact or foundation named in the policy, with a two page concept note.
- Send the full proposal only when asked, and expect site visits and due diligence.
How to get CSR funding for trust bodies is the same. Being a trust is not a drawback as long as it has 12A, 80G and CSR-1.
How to write an application for CSR funding
When people ask how to write application for CSR funding papers, they usually mean a project proposal. Keep it short, specific and costed. A common structure:
| Part | What to write |
|---|---|
| Cover letter | One page: who you are, the project, amount sought, duration, your CSR-1 number |
| About the NGO | Legal form, registration, 12A, 80G, CSR-1, Darpan ID, years of work, team |
| Problem and location | Local data: district, villages, number of people affected |
| Schedule VII fit | Which item your project falls under, in the Act's words |
| Activities and timeline | Month by month plan with clear outputs |
| Outcomes and measures | What will change, how you will measure it, baseline and endline |
| Budget | Line items, unit costs, admin cost shown separately |
| Monitoring and reporting | Reports, visits, photos, utilisation certificates |
| Annexures | Certificates, audited accounts, past project reports |
A good project report for CSR funding uses real numbers from your past work. Avoid copied sample proposals; companies read hundreds and can tell.
Documents required for CSR funding
- Registration certificate and trust deed, society MoA and bye-laws, or company MoA and AoA
- PAN of the NGO
- 12A and 80G orders, and the CSR-1 registration number
- NGO Darpan Unique ID
- Audited accounts and annual reports for recent years
- List of trustees or board members with roles
- Bank details and a cancelled cheque
- FCRA certificate only if you also take foreign money; CSR from Indian companies does not need FCRA (see FCRA registration)
Red flags and CSR funding scams
Because CSR money is large, fake agents are common. Watch for these signs:
| Red flag | Why it is a problem |
|---|---|
| Someone asks for a fee to "release" or "sanction" CSR funds | Companies do not charge NGOs to give CSR money |
| A demand to return part of the grant in cash | This is a kickback and can be a crime for both sides |
| A "government CSR portal" that takes applications for payment | csr.gov.in shows data; it does not sell grants |
| A promise of sure funding within days | Real CSR due diligence takes weeks or months |
| CSR funding consultants who want your DSC or passwords | Never share login details, DSC tokens or OTPs |
If a CSR deal looks wrong, stop and check the company's published CSR policy and contact details yourself. For government grants instead of company money, see the Ministry of Social Justice grant portal.
Common questions
No. The National CSR Portal shows CSR spending data filed by companies, but it does not accept NGO applications. Each company decides its own projects, usually through its CSR committee and board. Approach companies directly using their published CSR policies.
MCA publishes company-wise CSR spending data on csr.gov.in. You can use it, along with company CSR policies, to find companies working in your area and sector. Be careful of paid lists sold by agents; they are often outdated.
Most companies ask for your registration papers, PAN, 12A and 80G orders, CSR-1 registration number, audited accounts and annual reports, and a costed project proposal. Many also ask for your NGO Darpan ID and bank details.
It is hard. To file CSR-1, a trust, society or section 8 company usually needs a three year track record in similar work, plus 12A and 80G. A new group can first build a record with local donors and smaller grants.
No, not when the money comes from an Indian company. FCRA applies to money from foreign sources. If you take foreign money too, keep it in separate FCRA accounts.
Yes. A section 8 company with 12A (now income tax registration under the new Act) and 80G and the needed track record can register through CSR-1 and work as an implementing agency. Companies can also set up their own section 8 company for CSR.