Home/ Countries/ Nepal
Nepal flag Nepal · Asia

Charities in Nepal

GiveRadar tracks 57,131 charities, nonprofits and NGOs in Nepal, built from the Social Welfare Council, the government body that affiliates social-welfare organizations, and the NGO Federation of Nepal. Affiliation records that an organization is registered and works in a social-development field, not that a ministry vetted its charitable quality, governance or finances, so these are registered NGOs rather than vetted charities. Nepal has no charity register in the Western sense.

57,128
Registered NGOs
87.8%
Registration number on file
Community Development
Largest cause area
1 per 518
Residents per organization
Matt Timmermans Reviewed by Matt Timmermans Founder of GiveRadar · Checked August 23, 2026
Where this data comes from  ·  How current it is
The directory

All organizations in Nepal

Filters

Updating results...
The register at a glance

How many charities, nonprofits and NGOs are there in Nepal?

GiveRadar tracks 57,131 nonprofits and NGOs in Nepal, drawn from the Social Welfare Council, the government body that affiliates social-welfare organizations. 50,137 of them (87.8%) carry a registration number, and the average integrity assessment across Nepali rows is 42.7 out of 100.

Whole-register totals
57,128 Registered NGOs
87.8% Carry a Registration number 50,137 of them
1 per 518 Residents per organization Against a population of 29,618,118 (World Bank, 2025)
42.7/100 Average integrity assessment A measure of disclosure, not impact or effectiveness

GiveRadar holds a website for just 298 Nepali NGOs (0.5%), an email for 1,174 (2.1%) and a financial return for 1,219 (2.1%), because the Social Welfare Council's affiliation record documents that an organization is registered and where it works, not how it is funded or how it spends money. The register was built to track affiliation, not to hold what a donor looks for. The average integrity assessment for Nepali rows, 42.7 out of 100, is a direct read of that gap in published detail, not a judgment on any single organization.

By category

What causes do Nepal's charities and nonprofits support?

Community development is the largest cause category among the Nepali charities and nonprofits GiveRadar tracks, with 34,531 organizations, followed by youth development at 7,608, human services at 3,289, health at 3,178, social services at 2,253 and environment at 2,212. These categories are inferred from the sector each organization records with the Social Welfare Council, not from a verified activity record.

01 Community Development 34,531 60% 02 Youth Development 7,608 13% 03 Human Services 3,287 6% 04 Health 3,178 6% 05 Social Services 2,253 4% 06 Environment 2,212 4% 07 Religion 1,509 3% 08 Education 1,490 3% 09 Arts & Culture 493 1% 10 Advocacy & Civil Rights 354 1% 11 Disaster Relief 105 <1%
Location of nonprofits in Nepal

Where in Nepal are its charities and NGOs based?

GiveRadar places 56,727 of the 57,131 Nepali nonprofits and NGOs (99.3%) in one of the seven provinces, from the address on the affiliation record. Bagmati holds the most at 28,032, followed by Madhesh at 8,109, Koshi at 5,261, Lumbini at 4,707, Gandaki at 4,140, Sudurpashchim at 3,846 and Karnali at 2,632.

Organization density
Each province shaded by registered NGOs. Boundaries: geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0).

Top districts

Kathmandu district has by far the most registered NGOs on GiveRadar, 16,665, ahead of Lalitpur at 3,322, Kaski at 1,470 and Chitwan at 1,408. These follow the district recorded on the affiliation record and are not adjusted for the size of the local population.

01 Kathmandu 16,663 organizations 02 Lalitpur 3,322 organizations 03 Kaski 1,469 organizations 04 Chitwan 1,408 organizations 05 Dhanusa 1,338 organizations 06 Kailali 1,228 organizations 07 Mahottari 1,220 organizations 08 Kavrepalanchok 1,190 organizations 09 Rautahat 1,143 organizations 10 Saptari 1,071 organizations

NGOs by province

Bagmati 28,030 49.4% Madhesh 8,109 14.3% Koshi 5,261 9.3% Lumbini 4,707 8.3% Gandaki 4,139 7.3% Sudurpashchim 3,846 6.8% Karnali 2,632 4.6%

Nepal is divided into seven provinces, and GiveRadar can place almost every registered NGO in one because the Social Welfare Council records each organization's district and province. A registered address is where an organization is based, not a map of where its programs reach, which for a national NGO is often a head office in the Kathmandu Valley.

Data sources

Where does GiveRadar's Nepal data come from?

GiveRadar's 57,131 Nepali NGOs come from the Social Welfare Council, the government body that affiliates social-welfare organizations under the Social Welfare Act, together with the NGO Federation of Nepal. An affiliation record holds an organization's name, registration number, sector, district and province; it carries no financial statements, officers or, for almost all rows, a website, because the register was never built to.

Social Welfare Council (SWC) swc.org.np ↗
The government council that affiliates social-welfare NGOs and INGOs and holds their registration record, region and sector
57,128 records 100% coverage
NGO Federation of Nepal ngofederation.org ↗
The national umbrella body of Nepali NGOs, with a searchable member directory
Inland Revenue Department ird.gov.np ↗
Where tax-exempt status for an organization is granted and recorded, separately from SWC affiliation
One GiveRadar profile
57,128
Share of profiles carrying each field
Financial return 2.1%
Expense breakdown 0%
Website 0.4%
Contact email 2.1%
Freshness

How current is GiveRadar's Nepal data?

August 22, 2026 Register last refreshed The most recent full pass over the Social Welfare Council and NGO Federation source data. Any profile with its own newer edit carries that later date instead.
August 23, 2026 This page last reviewed When the figures, wording and sources on this page were last checked against the register.

GiveRadar refreshes Nepali NGO data in periodic bulk passes rather than a continuous feed. A very recent affiliation, a renewal or a change of address may not appear yet, and SWC affiliation must be renewed periodically, so a lapsed record may still show here until the next pass.

Learn more with our country guide

Giving in Nepal

How the charity sector is regulated, what kinds of nonprofits operate, and how to evaluate them before you give.

How many charities, nonprofits and NGOs are there in Nepal, and who registers them?

GiveRadar tracks 57,131 registered NGOs in Nepal. They are drawn from the Social Welfare Council (SWC), the government body that affiliates social-welfare organizations, together with the NGO Federation of Nepal. Nepal has no single charity register in the Western sense, so this is a register of registered NGOs, not vetted charities.

An NGO first gains legal existence by registering as an association (sanstha) at a District Administration Office under the Associations Registration Act 2034 of 1977. To work in social development or receive foreign funding, it then affiliates with the Social Welfare Council under the Social Welfare Act 2049 of 1992.

How do you register an NGO or nonprofit in Nepal?

An NGO in Nepal registers in two steps: first as an association for legal existence, then by affiliation to operate in social development. Founders adopt a constitution and register the organization at the District Administration Office of its district, which gives it legal personality and a registration number.

To work in social-welfare fields or receive foreign funding, the organization then affiliates with the Social Welfare Council. International NGOs register directly with the Council under a general agreement and project-by-project agreements. Both registrations must be renewed periodically.

What does SWC affiliation tell you, and what does it not?

SWC affiliation tells you an organization is a registered social-welfare NGO; it does not tell you that anyone vetted its charitable purpose, governance or finances. The Council records that an organization is affiliated and the sector it works in, not a judgment of its quality or impact.

GiveRadar's integrity assessment reflects that gap on purpose: it measures what an organization discloses, and the affiliation register carries no financial statements or officer records for almost every organization. A high or low score is a read of published detail, not of how an NGO is run.

Are donations to Nepali charities and NGOs tax-deductible?

Tax exemption in Nepal is granted separately by the Inland Revenue Department, not by the Social Welfare Council. SWC affiliation on its own does not make a gift deductible.

A Nepali taxpayer can claim limited relief for donations to organizations the Inland Revenue Department has approved, subject to the applicable caps. International donors often give through a home-country intermediary or an international giving platform. Confirm an organization's current tax status before assuming a gift qualifies.

How do you check a Nepali charity or NGO before you donate?

Check a Nepali NGO in the official records before giving, using its exact name or registration number. A familiar name or a professional website is not a substitute for confirming registration and current affiliation.

  • Confirm the organization with the Social Welfare Council and check that its affiliation is current, since it must be renewed.
  • Cross-check its District Administration Office registration for legal existence.
  • For tax-effective giving, confirm its Inland Revenue Department status.
  • Read the organization's own reports and donation terms. See GiveRadar's integrity score methodology for what each data point proves.

How can you donate to charities and NGOs in Nepal?

Nepal offers direct giving to registered NGOs working in health, education, community development, disaster recovery and the environment. Choose a cause deliberately, verify the recipient and use only payment details the organization itself publishes.

  • Explore Nepali NGOs by cause, such as the health NGOs directory, and compare organizations serving the outcome you value.
  • Review the sector, province, registration number and current SWC affiliation.
  • Give through the organization's confirmed bank details, eSewa or a secure payment page, or a reputable international platform.
  • Keep the receipt and confirm tax status if you intend to claim relief. See GiveRadar's guidance for donors for more checks.
FAQ

Common questions

What is the Social Welfare Council in Nepal?

The Social Welfare Council (SWC) is the Nepali government body that affiliates social-welfare NGOs and INGOs under the Social Welfare Act 2049. Affiliation lets an organization work in social-development fields and receive foreign funding through the Council, and it holds the organization's registration record, sector and district.

How does an NGO register in Nepal?

A Nepali NGO first registers as an association at the District Administration Office under the Associations Registration Act 2034, which gives it legal existence. To work in social development or take foreign funding it then affiliates with the Social Welfare Council. Both registrations must be renewed periodically.

Are the organizations on GiveRadar's Nepal page vetted charities?

No, they are registered NGOs, not vetted charities. The Social Welfare Council records that an organization is affiliated and works in a social-development sector; it does not assess its charitable impact, governance or finances. Nepal has no charity register in the Western sense, so treat affiliation as registration, not endorsement.

Are donations to Nepali NGOs tax-deductible?

Tax exemption in Nepal is granted separately by the Inland Revenue Department, not by the Social Welfare Council, and SWC affiliation does not by itself make a gift deductible. A Nepali taxpayer can claim limited relief for donations to organizations the IRD has approved, so confirm an organization's tax status before assuming a gift qualifies.

How can I check a Nepali NGO before donating?

Confirm the organization in the Social Welfare Council's records by name or registration number, and check that its SWC affiliation is current, since it must be renewed. Cross-check its District Administration Office registration and, for tax-deductible giving, its Inland Revenue Department status. Registration confirms it exists, not that a gift is well spent.

What does GiveRadar hold for Nepali NGOs, and what is missing?

GiveRadar holds a name, registration number, sector, district and province for Nepali NGOs, with a registration number on 87.8%. It holds a website for only 0.5%, an email for 2.1% and a financial return for 2.1%, because the affiliation register never required those, and GiveRadar holds no audited accounts for Nepal.

For Nepal nonprofits

Your organization is already on the radar. Claim it.

Claiming takes five minutes, is free forever, and GiveRadar never takes a cut.