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What is the difference between an association and a foundation?

What is the difference between an association and a foundation?
The formal difference between the two is presented below, but in practice they can operate in similar ways.

Autor/źródło: MYDAYcontent / stock.adobe.com

Foundation

founders

  • there can be one or multiple founders

members

  • “membership” does not apply

management

  • board of directors
  • internal control body (foundation council, supervisory board, audit committee) - optional

objectives and forms of operation

  • the objective should be legal and socially or economically useful
  • non-profit objective
  • the objective cannot be to support the members of management bodies
  • the objective must be verifiable and tangible
  • public benefit activity can be performed as a charity or as a paid service

beneficiaries

  • people from outside the organization

assets

  • the basis for a foundation’s operations are its assets, provided by the founder in the form of endowment - this can be money, as well as real estate or movable property
  • separate fund, a minimum of 1000 PLN for conducting business

funding sources

  • central and local government (e.g. subsidies)
  • grant-making organizations
  • natural persons and legal entities (e.g. donations, fundraisers)
  • foundation’s own for-profit activities (public benefit activity for a fee, business activity)

Association

founders

  • at least 7 founders

members

  • association has members

management

  • general assembly of the members
  • audit committee
  • board of directors

objectives and forms of operation

  • any objective within legal boundaries is viable
  • non-profit objective
  • the objective can be to support the members of the association (e.g. a Cricket Enthusiasts Association, with the objective of supporting the association members and nurturing their shared passion for cricket)
  • the objectives may be abstract and intangible
  • public benefit activity can be performed as a charity or as a paid service

beneficiaries

  • association members and/or non-members

assets

  • no assets are required to establish an association (people are the “asset”)

funding sources

  • central and local government (e.g. subsidies)
  • grant-making organizations
  • natural persons and legal entities (e.g. donations, fundraisers)
  • foundation’s own for-profit activities (public benefit activity for a fee, business activity)
  • membership fees