Classification of forms and types of NGOs in Ukraine

Public associations play a crucial role in defending citizens' rights and freedoms, as well as in fulfilling socially essential interests. These communities unite individuals with shared aims and objectives, collaborating to achieve their goals. This article explores the various types and forms of public associations, addresses their legal status, and delineates their differences.

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Related article: Regulations on activities of Non-Profits in Ukraine in 2016

Changes in the legislation on non-governmental organizations

Recently, there have been significant changes in the regulation of the registration process and the functioning of non-governmental organizations of Ukraine:

• state registration of NGOs is now free. Payment is made only for amendments to the charter, structure and composition of governing bodies;
• there has been a decrease in the number of reasons for refusing to register NGOs, and the time for their registration was reduced (now 3 days);
• restrictions on the protection of the interests of its members only have been lifted;
• the right to act throughout Ukraine has been granted ;
• the "All-Ukrainian" status  for NGOs has remained , but its confirmation is entirely voluntary;
• a complete list of the reasons for liquidation of NGOs has been fixed;
• the right to conduct business activities for the implementation of its statutory tasks has been fixed.

Related article: Comment on new act of Ukraine “on Non-Governmental Organizations”

It is also worth noting that there have been changes regarding the status of an NGO. From now on, the law does not contain a norm on the classification of status depending on the territory of activity of NGOs. NGOs can have “children's”, “youth” and “All-Ukrainian” statuses. The significance of the all-Ukrainian status has some differences.

Related article: All-Ukrainian status of non-governmental organization. Clarification of legal aspects

Forms of NGOs 

We can distinguish two legal forms of NGOs : public organization and public union.

1. A public organization - is an association whose founders and members (participants) are natural persons only.
2. A public union - is an association whose founders are legal entities of private law only, and both legal entities and natural persons can be its members.

Related article: Our lawyers registered a non-profit All-Ukrainian ngo

In the table below, we will analyze all the differences between these two forms of NGOs.

Important! The legal form of an NGO is an obligatory component of its name.

Types of NGOs, depending on the status of a legal entity

NGOs can be set up with or without a legal entity status. The difference is that an NGO with the status of a legal entity acquires all its characteristic features. Such a public association acquires the right to:

• participation in civil law relations, acquisition of property and non-property rights;
• direct business activities;

Important! The legislation established that an NGO has the right to engage in entrepreneurial activity, if this is specified in its сharter. But in practice, NGO face the problem of obtaining a non-profit status. Tax inspectorates refuse to award this status, using the principle: provided for by constituent documents, entrepreneurial activity is profitable.

Previously, this problem was solved by forming a profitable company by an NGO association. Such practice is still carried out through the specified conflict in the legislation.

• reasons of the media to achieve its statutory goal;
• participation in the implementation of state regulatory policy;
• establishment of a company or enterprise that may be executors of a state order.

At the same time, NGOs with the status of a legal entity and legal entities created by it undertake to maintain accounting, financial and statistical reporting, be registered with the State Fiscal Service and pay obligatory payments to the budget in accordance with the law. Whereas an NGO without a legal entity status does not have such obligations.

Related article: We registered an ngo without a status of legal entity

If you have any questions regarding the organization of work, rights and obligations, or the registration of NGOs, our lawyers can provide you with their qualified advice.