Publication date: 18.02.2025
My name is Svetlana Kazantseva, a lawyer from Warsaw. The key areas of law I work in are legalization and citizenship. My out-of-the-box thinking, speed of making the right decisions, and experience set me apart from other professionals.
Registration of a charitable foundation in Poland
In the context of the war and the difficult humanitarian situation, the importance of supporting Ukrainians in Poland has become extremely high. My client contacted me with a desire to establish a charitable foundation that would actively help Ukrainian families living in Poland. Given the current situation and the need to help children, women and the elderly, this project was of great importance. However, registration of a charitable organization in Poland requires compliance with a number of legal procedures, so the client needed professional support to ensure the correct process.
Preparing for the registration of the foundation
The first step was to draft the charter of the charitable foundation, which had to clearly define the mission of the organization, its goals and objectives. Together with the client, we agreed on all the details of the charter, which allowed us to avoid delays at the registration stage. After that, we prepared the necessary documents for registration, including not only the charter, but also confirmation of the foundation's address, information about the founders and their legal documents.
Registration in the National Court Register (KRS)
An important step was the submission of documents for registration of the foundation in the KRS (Krajowy Rejestr Sądowy - National Court Register), which is a prerequisite for the legal activity of any charitable organization in Poland. This allows the foundation to obtain official status and operate within the framework of Polish law. Due to the precise fulfillment of all requirements, the registration was completed without any delays, and the foundation received official status.
Registration with tax and other authorities
After successful registration with KRS, we applied to the tax authorities to obtain the necessary identification numbers. This is an important step because without proper tax registration, the foundation cannot conduct financial transactions or receive donations:
- NIP (Podatkowy Numer Identyfikacyjny): tax identification number of the foundation
- REGON (Rejestr Gospodarki Narodowej): organization number required to perform official financial transactions
- Official recognition of the charitable status of the foundation: applying to the authorities for a charitable activity permit
Start of activities and first achievements
Thanks to the fast processing and well-coordinated work, the foundation was successfully registered and started its activities. Within a few days after the foundation's registration, the client was able to organize the first events to provide humanitarian aid to Ukrainian families staying in Poland.
Work results
Successful registration of the foundation with the KRS: the foundation received an official status and was able to start its activities without legal obstacles
All necessary tax numbers have been obtained: NIP and REGON
Official recognition of charitable status: the foundation was officially registered as a charitable organization
Launch of humanitarian aid: the foundation is actively working to provide assistance to Ukrainian families in Poland
Questions and answers
Question
What documents do I need to prepare to register a charitable foundation in Poland?
Answer
To register a foundation, it is necessary to prepare a charter, documents about the founders, proof of legal address, as well as other legal documents confirming the status of the founders
Question
How fast can I register a charitable foundation in Poland?
Answer
The registration process can take from a few days to a week if all documents are prepared correctly and submitted in accordance with the requirements of the KRS
Registering a charitable foundation in Poland is an important step in supporting Ukrainians. Thanks to our professional approach and legal support, the foundation was successfully registered and has already started its activities, helping those in need
