Join the Social Stock Exchange and connect your NGO with ethical investors. Turn your mission into measurable impact and scale your social initiatives with transparency and trust.
Traditional NGO funding through grants, CSR, and donations is often limited and unpredictable. Here comes the role of Social Stock Exchange Listing. Register and list your NGO or social enterprise on India's SEBI-regulated Social Stock Exchange (SSE) platform. It helps you raise funds from the public using transparent tools like Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) bonds and opens doors to credible funding, boosts visibility, and builds donor trust.
Who Can Join?
Non-profits (NPOs) with social goals like education or health.
Indian NGOs registered for 3+ years, spend ₹50 lakh yearly, have audited books, and an NGO Darpan ID.
What is a Social Stock Exchange Listing?
SSE is a process that creates a formal, regulated channel where social organizations can access broader funding sources while maintaining high standards of transparency and impact reporting. Unlike regular stock exchanges, where companies sell equity for profit, India's Social Stock Exchange (SSE) listing acts as a special marketplace where NGOs and social enterprises can raise money directly from people who want to contribute toward social welfare, all with complete transparency and accountability.
As of April 2024, 51 NPOs are registered on BSE SSE and 50 on NSE SSE, with 9 NPOs having successfully raised funds totalling ₹12.4 crore.
SSE Eligibility Checklist
If you are running an NGO and are unaware of how to qualify your social enterprise for Social Stock Exchange fundraising, here is a quick Eligibility Guide for beginners
Social Impact Focus: Prove your main goal is social good (aligned with 17 UN SDGs). Include activities like products/services, research, awareness, or capacity building.
Cross-check beneficiaries vs. census dataEx: Rural healthcare in aspirational districts
Beneficiary lists, geo-tags
3. 67% Rule(Last 3-yr avg.—ANY 1)
- Revenue: 67% from target group activities- Expenditure: 67% spent on target groups- Beneficiaries: 67% from target groups
Audit financials independentlyEx: 70% spent on tribal education programs
CA-certified P&L, audite
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Benefits of SSE Registration & Listing
1. Enhanced Funding Access
With an SSE registration, your NGO can raise funds through Zero Coupon Zero Principal Bonds (ZCZP), Development Impact Bonds (DIB), mutual fund donations, and more. Also, you can get access to additional donors and impact investors, which is not available via traditional funding sources like grants or personal donations.
2. Credibility & Trust
Once listed under SEBI regulations, your NGO starts getting recognition from donors, setting you apart from thousands of unverified NGOs.
3. Transparency & Accountability
Real-time monitoring of fund deployment ensures donors have full transparency into the detailed impact of their work, along with periodic statements of fund utilization. It is highly recommended for your NGO to be audited by a qualified Social Impact Assessor or any expert professional consultant like NGOExperts who verify your claimed social impact efficiently.
4. Increased Visibility
With SSE registration and listing, your organization can gain significant visibility and credibility through the regulated platform and can build quality partnerships and affiliations.
Pro-tip: If your NGO is looking for credible CSR partners, remember that only SSE-registered organizations are preferred due to their verified credentials.
5. Tax Benefits for Donors
Donors investing in your non-profit can claim tax deductions under Section 80G, making contributions more attractive. Moreover, corporations can fulfill their CSR obligations by investing in SSE-listed social enterprises, with clear documentation for regulatory compliance.
Complete SSE Registration & Listing Roadmap
Step 1: Eligibility Self-Assessment
Operational Track Record: A Not-for-Profit Organisation needs to be in operation for 3 years before registering on the Social Stock Exchange.
Tax Registrations: Submit the registration certificate under Section 12A/12AA/12AB of the Income Tax Act, 1961, valid for the next 12 months.
Financial Thresholds: Mandatory criteria include annual spending of at least 50 lakhs and a minimum of 10 lakhs of funds in the past year
NGO Darpan Registration: Registration of the NPO on the NGO Darpan portal is mandatorily required for registering it on the Social Stock Exchange.
Step 2: Documents Preparation
Document Category
Specific Requirements
Validity
Formation Documents
Trust Deed / MOA-AOA / Society Registration Certificate
Original + amendments
Tax Certificates
12A/12AA/12AB Certificate
Valid for 12 months
Tax Exemption
80G Registration Certificate
Valid for 12 months
Incorporation Proof
Registration certificate from the relevant authority
Current
NGO Darpan
NITI Aayog NGO Darpan registration proof
Active status
PAN Card
Organization PAN card
Valid
Step 3: Choose Your Platform (BSE or NSE)
You can register on either or both as both offer SSE and listing.
Online eligibility quiz first, then the application
Direct login creation and application
Processing Time
15-25 days (typically)
15-25 days (typically)
Fees
Minimal (not yet notified separately)
Minimal (not yet notified separately)
Registered NPOs
51+ (as of April 2024)
50+ (as of April 2024)
Support
Dedicated SSE helpdesk
Dedicated SSE helpdesk
Our Recommendation: Register on both platforms to maximize visibility and funding opportunities. The processes are similar, and documents can be reused.
Step 4: Online Application Submission
Start by visiting the BSE Social Stock Exchange portal
Fill comprehensive application form
Upload all documents in PDF format
Apply with a digital signature
Similar process for NSE SSE process, apart from the NSE portal.
Step 5: Submission Review & Exchange Verification
Total Processing Time: 15-30 days, depending on completeness and complexity
Step 6: Registration Approval & Listing
Upon Approval, You Receive:
Registration Certificate: Official document confirming your NPO is registered on SSE, valid for 1 year.
Unique Identification: SSE registration number for all future transactions and disclosures.
Portal Access: Login credentials to the SSE platform
Now your organization appears in the public directory of registered NPOs on the BSE/NSE website.
Step 7: Post-Registration Fundraising Options
Once registered, you can raise funds through Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) Bonds: Zero-coupon zero-principal bonds allow NPOs to directly list on the SSE through the issuance of bonds that carry no interest payments and no principal repayment. They function as structured philanthropic donations. The minimum issue size of ZCZP is ₹1 crore, and the minimum subscription application size is ₹2 lakhs.
Ongoing Compliance Requirements
Even if you don't raise funds, registration requires continuous compliance.
1. Annual Impact Report (AIR): NPOs must have the AIR audited by a Social Auditor and disclose the Social Auditor's report along with the AIR. It has to be submitted within 60 days from the end of the financial year, NPOs must provide annual disclosures
2. Quarterly Fund Utilization Statement: It has to be submittedwithin 45 days from the end of the quarter
3. Financial Statements
Audited Balance Sheet
Income & Expenditure Statement
Receipts & Payments Account
Auditor's Report
Have Questions? Talk to Our NGO Experts
Get free guidance on NGO registration, compliance & tax exemptions
Why Choose Ngoexperts for SSE Registration?
Deep Understanding: We've studied SSE regulations in detail, tracked every SEBI circular, and understand the nuances that make applications successful.
NGO Focus: Unlike general consultants, we specialise in NGO compliance and understand your challenges.
End-to-End Support: From Eligibility to Fundraising, we don't just help you register; we support your entire SSE journey, from initial assessment through successful fundraising and ongoing compliance.
Document Preparation: We handle the entire burden of compiling, organizing, and preparing all required documents, freeing you to focus on your core mission.
Zero Rejection Rate: Our thorough preparation ensures your application is complete and compliant, minimizing the risk of rejection
Timely Submissions: We track all compliance deadlines and ensure reports are filed on time, every time.
Quality Standards: Every document, report, and disclosure meets or exceeds SEBI's stringent quality requirements.
Fundraising Through ZCZP Bonds
Are you an NGO owner planning to list on the Social Stock Exchange (SSE) and raise funds through Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) bonds? Here’s how to get started:
