Start up a charity
The Commission’s Starting a charity guidance provides an introduction and overview of factors to consider when setting up a new charity.
It highlights aspects of the law that governs charities in Northern Ireland and signposts to detailed guidance on specific areas. If you are thinking of setting up a new charity this guidance will help you to consider:
- if setting up a charity is the best way to achieve your purpose
- what type of charity to set up
- naming your charity
- when registration is compulsory
- what rules you may want to set for your charity
- legal obligations on charities eg annual reporting to the Commission.
An organisation must apply for registration as a charity in Northern Ireland if:
- it has exclusively charitable purposes
- it is governed by the law of Northern Ireland
- it is independent - the hallmarks of which include having control and direction over its governance and resources.
For more information on compulsory registration and annual reporting visit the Register your charity or Annual reporting sections of the Commission’s website.