On March 28, 2024, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs announced an extension of certificates issued under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) pending renewal, either until June 30, 2024 or until their renewal application has been processed, whichever is earlier. Note that previous extensions in 2022 and 2023 were of a six-month duration, while the extension announced today is only for a three-month duration.
Importantly, all organizations with certificates previously set to expire between April 1 and June 30, 2024 and who have a pending renewal application are covered under this extension. Currently eligible organizations whose eligibility is set to expire between April 1 and June 30, 2024 will also be covered under this extension, as long as they have applied for renewal before their current certificate expires.
If an FCRA application is rejected, the organization in question is forbidden to utilize contributions received on or after the date of the rejection and CAF America will no longer approve grants advised to those organizations.
CAF America is actively communicating with our NGO partners to collect and review renewed FCRA certifications as quickly as possible upon approval from the Ministry. We are closely monitoring these developments so we can continue to support our charity partners in India as we are able. Up to March 31, all charities in our database are CAF America- and FCRA-eligible to receive foreign grants. Starting April 1, our team will be verifying that Indian organizations with FCRA compliance set to expire on March 31, 2024 are extended. To confirm if your organization is still eligible after the deadline with FCRA, please reach out to the CAF America team.
Past FCRA Updates
This is the fifth time the Ministry of Home Affairs has extended these deadlines. See past announcements below:
About FCRA
The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) is India’s law regulating the flow of foreign funding into the country. Indian nonprofits must have a valid FCRA Registration to be able to legally receive charitable funds from donors outside of India—organizations without an eligible FCRA registration number are ineligible to receive foreign contributions.
CAF America is continuously monitoring the situation so that our network is as informed and compliant as possible with foreign funding laws. Please reach out to us at info@cafamerica.org if you have any questions.
Other Resources
To read the full public notice from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs:
Extension of the validity of FCRA registration certificates, 3.28.24
For the full text of the FCRA:
Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010
Is your preferred charity able to receive foreign grants under FCRA?
Verify eligibility with this search tool provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs
To learn about grantmaking in India:
Giving to India? Compliance with the Newly Amended FCRA
For more on how Indian NGOs have adapted to FCRA and other policy changes:
A Changing Philanthropic Landscape in India: Understanding how Indian NGOs continue to innovate and give voice to the marginalized within the framework of changing policies