Trademark Registration for an NGO or Trust in India
An NGO, trust, or society can and should trademark its name and logo in India. The relevant class depends on activity: Class 45 for social and charitable services, Class 36 for fundraising and donations, and Class 41 for education and awareness programmes. Registration protects your reputation and donor trust — filing from ₹1,499.
An NGO's name and logo carry its reputation and donor trust — and are surprisingly easy to misuse. Fake outfits collecting donations under a well-known NGO's name is a real risk. A trademark gives your organisation exclusive rights to its identity. Here is which class an NGO or trust should file and how to register.
Why an NGO or trust needs a trademark
For a non-profit, credibility is everything — and your name and logo are what donors, grant-makers, and beneficiaries recognise and trust. Registration under the Societies, Trusts, or Section 8 framework establishes your legal entity, but it does not stop others from using a similar name to solicit donations or run programmes. A trademark does. It gives you exclusive nationwide rights to your name and logo for your activities, lets you act against impersonators misusing your identity, and reassures institutional donors and CSR partners during due diligence. It also protects the brand as you expand to new regions or causes.
Which class for an NGO or trust?
It depends on what your organisation does. Class 45 covers personal and social services rendered to meet the needs of individuals — the natural home for many charitable and social-welfare NGOs. Class 36 covers financial services including charitable fundraising and the collection of donations, relevant if fundraising is central to your work. Class 41 covers education, training, and awareness/cultural programmes, fitting NGOs focused on education, skilling, or awareness campaigns. Health-focused organisations may use Class 44, and environmental or research bodies Class 42. Many NGOs file the class that best matches their primary activity, adding others (like Class 36 for fundraising) as needed.
How to register your NGO name
Start with a trademark search on your organisation's name and logo in the relevant class to check availability. The application is usually filed in the name of the registered entity (the trust, society, or Section 8 company) with its authorised signatory. File Form TM-A online through IP India; a trust or Section 8 company generally qualifies for the concessional fee of ₹4,500 per class. You receive a TM number the same day and can use ™ on your materials. The application then goes through examination and journal publication before registration.
- Search your NGO name and logo in the relevant class
- File in the name of the registered trust/society/Section 8 company
- Choose the class matching your activity (45 / 36 / 41)
- Concessional government fee ₹4,500/class for eligible entities
- Use ™ on your branding and donation materials immediately
Common mistakes to avoid
A frequent mistake is assuming that registering the trust or society name protects it as a brand — it does not, and similar names can exist. Another is picking a generic, cause-descriptive name that is hard to register or enforce. NGOs also sometimes file only the logo, leaving the name unprotected. Finally, do not treat trademarking as unnecessary for a non-profit: donor-facing reputation makes NGOs prime targets for name misuse, and a registered mark is your strongest protection.
An NGO or trust should trademark its name and logo to protect donor trust and stop impersonators. Choose the class that matches your work — Class 45 for social services, Class 36 for fundraising, Class 41 for education — file in the entity's name, and claim your ™ the same day. From ₹1,499.
Protect Your NGO's Name and Reputation
Our IP team helps your trust or NGO pick the right class and register its name and logo — safeguarding donor trust from misuse. Free search, filing from ₹1,499.
- Free eligibility & conflict check
- IP India authorised agents
- 100% online — filing from ₹1,499
Call Now: 6239771006
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A trust, society, or Section 8 company can file a trademark in the name of the registered entity. Non-profits should protect their name and logo just as businesses do — arguably more, given the reputational risk of name misuse.
It depends on activity: Class 45 for social and charitable services, Class 36 for fundraising and collection of donations, and Class 41 for education and awareness programmes. Health NGOs may use Class 44. Many file the class matching their primary work and add others as needed.
No. Entity registration establishes your legal status but does not give exclusive brand rights — similar names can exist. Only a trademark gives you the exclusive right to your name and logo and the ability to stop impersonators.
The reduced government fee of ₹4,500 per class applies to individuals, startups, and small enterprises. Trusts and Section 8 companies generally qualify for the concessional rate; the exact eligibility should be confirmed at filing based on the entity type and documents.
Looking for something else? Browse all Trademark Guides guides
