Charities and NGOs in Malaysia
Malaysia has a diverse nonprofit sector built around societies (pertubuhan) registered with the Registry of Societies, Companies Limited by Guarantee (CLBG) under the Companies Act, and trusts and foundations (yayasan). The sector is active in poverty alleviation, public health, education, environmental conservation in Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia, refugee support (Malaysia hosts large Rohingya and other refugee populations), animal welfare, and Islamic philanthropy. Whether you are searching for a comprehensive list of Malaysian charities or a single verified Malaysian nonprofit to donate to, GiveRadar brings together directory listings, contact and website details, descriptions, news coverage, and an independent integrity score for Malaysian nonprofits, compiled from public charity directories. Read about how GiveRadar works before you give.
How charities and NGOs are registered in Malaysia
Malaysian societies (groups of seven or more persons formed for a common purpose) register with the Registry of Societies (ROS), a department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, under the Societies Act 1966. The ROS modernized to the eROSES v2.0 cloud platform with 2025-2026 updates focused on digital IDs and AI-driven vetting. Foreign-led nonprofits typically incorporate as Companies Limited by Guarantee (CLBG) at the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) under the Companies Act 2016. Trusts and yayasan register under the Trustees (Incorporation) Act 1952. Tax-exempt status under section 44(6) of the Income Tax Act is granted by Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN), and only LHDN-approved organizations can issue receipts that allow donors to claim a deduction.
Major causes and well-known Malaysian NGOs
The Malaysian nonprofit landscape spans secular and faith-based organizations:
- Poverty and welfare: Yayasan MyKasih, Mercy Malaysia, Tabung Haji-linked Islamic charities, and Persatuan Alzheimer Malaysia.
- Health: National Cancer Society Malaysia, MAKNA (Majlis Kanser Nasional), MERCY Malaysia, and the National Heart Foundation of Malaysia.
- Refugee and humanitarian: Tenaganita, ALL FOR Refugees, Malaysian Social Research Institute (MSRI), and Yayasan Salam.
- Education and youth: Yayasan Generasi Gemilang, Teach For Malaysia, Yayasan Hasanah, and Pemadam Foundation.
- Environment and conservation: WWF-Malaysia, Malaysian Nature Society, Hutan Wildlife Conservation, and Reef Check Malaysia.
- Animal welfare: SPCA Selangor, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Malaysia, and AnimalWalker.
- Disability and inclusion: Persatuan Sindrom Down Malaysia, Bold (formerly NASOM), and Malaysian Foundation for the Blind.
Compare two organizations side by side with our charity comparison tool, or browse best health charities in Malaysia and best environmental charities in Malaysia to narrow by cause.
How to evaluate a Malaysian NGO before donating
Malaysia has a substantial nonprofit sector with mixed transparency. Things to check before giving to any Malaysian NGO:
- ROS or SSM registration: every legitimate Malaysian nonprofit is registered as a society (ROS) or CLBG (SSM); verify on the relevant registry.
- LHDN section 44(6) status: required for tax-deductible donations; verify on the LHDN approved list.
- Audited annual reports: reputable Malaysian NGOs publish them online.
- International partnerships: partners of UN agencies, USAID, FCDO, or major foundations have usually passed vendor due-diligence checks.
- Sanctions and watchlists: use our free charity checker tool to cross-reference every Malaysian nonprofit against OFAC, EU, and UN watchlists automatically.
Each Malaysian nonprofit profile on GiveRadar combines directory and contact details, leadership and governance information, website and social presence, and third-party signals into a single 0-100 integrity score. Read our integrity score methodology for the full weighting.
Malaysia NGO explorer: browse, filter, compare
This page works as a Malaysia NGO explorer: every registered Malaysian nonprofit we hold data on, ranked and filterable by state, cause area, LHDN tax-exempt status, financial transparency, presence of a website, and size. Use the filters on the left to narrow by category (poverty, health, refugee, education, environment, animal welfare, disability, religion, advocacy, and more), and the search bar to find a specific organization by name or registration number. The directory updates daily as we ingest new registration data and enrich existing records with contact details, financials, programs, and news coverage. To compare Malaysian giving against other markets, browse all countries or jump straight to environmental charities globally.
Donating to charities in Malaysia
Most Malaysian NGOs accept FPX, DuitNow, Touch 'n Go, credit-card, and bank-transfer donations directly through their websites. Malaysian donors can claim a tax deduction (up to 10% of aggregate income) on donations to LHDN-approved section 44(6) organizations. Zakat is administered separately through state Islamic religious councils. International donors typically give through US 501(c)(3) intermediaries or platforms like GlobalGiving. GiveRadar links to each NGO's official donation channel where available and flags fundraising pages that look unverified. For a structured donor walkthrough, read our donor due-diligence guide.