Egyptian NGO Law

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Under Law 84/2002, Egyptian NGOs come in two main forms: Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Civic Foundations (Foundations).

Community Development Associations (CDAs)
- Founders: may be individuals or legal entities. Foreigners must be legally resident in Egypt; foreign legal entities must be established in Egypt or authorized to operate there to become founders.
- Minimum founders: at least 10 people or entities.
- Purpose: must be non-profit.
- Articles of Association: signed by all founders, with a suitable headquarters in Egypt.
- Registration: the Articles must be registered with the Ministry of Social Solidarity within 60 days. If the Ministry objects in writing, the CDA can address the objections within the allowed time.
- Prohibited activities: cannot form military or paramilitary groups; cannot threaten national unity, public order, or morality; cannot discriminate (by sex, origin, color, language, religion, or creed); cannot engage exclusively in political party or trade union activity or in profit-making.
- Income: can use commercial activities to support the association’s purposes, as long as these activities serve the nonprofit goals.
- Tax and funding: generally exempt from most taxes and customs; may receive donations from abroad with the Ministry’s permission.
- Governance: must have a General Assembly of all active members and a Board of Directors (at least five members) elected by the General Assembly for six-year terms. The share of Egyptian board members must be at least as large as the share of foreign board members.

Foundations (Civic Foundations)
- Founders: there is no minimum number of founders.
- Statute: a Foundation may be created by an official deed or by a registered will; either serves as the Foundation’s statute.
- Board of Trustees: must have at least three members appointed by the founders.
- Funding: may receive funds from third parties, but only with approval from the Minister of Social Solidarity.