Public organizations are divided into local (regional), nationwide, and international entities. A regional public organization is an entity registered and authorized to operate only within the confines of the region in which it is registered... Hold on! Did you fall for it? Many people still believe this even now and ask how to establish one, even though there haven't been any regional organizations since 2013. Or rather, those that were created prior to 2013 haven't gone anywhere and you can still come across such names. However, creating a new one has long been off the table and doesn't serve a purpose. All public organizations have the right to operate across the entire territory of Ukraine.
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How things were before 2013 and why there were regional public organizations?
The situation was that to establish a nationwide public organization, it was required to have branches in the majority of Ukraine's regions. However, not everyone was ready for this, as it involved not only registering these branches in each region but also having a legal address and, at the very least, leaders for these local units. This meant a significant amount of organizational work, which is why many started small and often limited themselves to their own region. In essence, they functioned within the confines of their specific area. If there were no ambitions that aimed at something on a global scale or encompassing the entire country, these organizations didn't expand to a nationwide level.
Since 2013, all public organizations are automatically considered nationwide. This means that whether an organization is registered in the capital, one of the regional centers, or even a small rural town, it can operate throughout the entire Ukraine. Moreover, it can engage in collaboration with foreign organizations. Territorial restrictions have long ceased to exist.
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Why does the status of being a nationwide organization persist to this day?
It's a relic of the past that people just don't seem willing to relinquish – the allure of it is undeniable. And truthfully, achieving this status is still feasible. The prerequisites remain unchanged: having branches across most regions. Then, an application is submitted to the Ministry of Justice along with updated foundational documents bearing the new name of the organization, something akin to "Public Organization All-Ukrainian Public Organization '_____.' It does carry an impressive resonance, doesn't it? Indeed, it does. However, the crucial point to note is its lack of substantive significance.
What's the point? You can opt to register a public organization without concerning yourself about its territorial status. However, you might need to address the non-profit status, and in certain cases, even that of a volunteer organization.
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