Classification of forms and types of NGOs in Ukraine

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Non-governmental organizations (hereinafter - NGOs) are communities whose purpose is the protection of rights and freedoms, carried out jointly, as well as ensuring the satisfaction of socially necessary interests.

In this article, we will talk about the different types and forms of NGOs, and pay attention to the issue of their status and identification of differences.

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.

A public organization - is an association whose founders and members (participants) are natural persons only.

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.

Criteria

A Public Organization

A Public Union

Founders

Citizens of Ukraine, foreigners and stateless persons, legally staying in Ukraine, who have reached 18 years of age, and youth and children's public organizations - 14 years old

Legal entities of private law, including public associations with the status of a legal entity.

Restrictions regarding founders

a person declared legally incapable by court cannot be a founder

Political parties cannot act as founders, or legal entities in respect of which a decision was made to terminate them or they are in the process of termination; also can not be a legal entity of private law, the sole founder of which is the same person; or legal entities of private law, if the founder (owner of substantial participation) of this legal entity is included in the list of persons associated with the implementation of terrorist activities or against whom international sanctions are applied.

Members (participants)

Persons 14 years old and older. The age of members of a youth, children's organization is determined by its charter within the limits established by law.

legal entities of private law, including public associations with the status of a legal entity, natural persons over the age of 18, who have not been declared legally incapable by court can act as members (participants)


Number of founders


At least two persons.


No less than two persons


Mixed participation


Not provided for- natural persons only 


Both legal entities of private law, and natural persons.


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.

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Publication date: 12/09/2016
Volodymyr Gurlov

About author

Name: Volodymyr Gurlov

Position: Partner

Education: National Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine

Knowledge of languages: Russian, Ukrainian, English

Email: [email protected]

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