NESPORTS FOUNDATION

1. Preamble

NESPORTS FOUNDATION ("the Foundation") is a Section 8 non-profit company registered under the Companies Act 2013 and dedicated to unlocking the sporting potential of athletes across the eight states of Northeast India. Working at the intersection of sports science, media, and community development, the Foundation exists to dismantle the structural barriers — funding deficits, geographic isolation, and limited media visibility — that keep talented athletes from the region from reaching their full potential.

This policy explains how the Foundation identifies, approaches, and partners with Indian and multinational corporations that deploy CSR funds under Section 135 of the Companies Act 2013 and the Companies (CSR Policy) Rules 2014 (as amended). To be unambiguous: the Foundation is a recipient and implementer of CSR contributions. It seeks CSR support from companies and channels those funds into its programmes — it is not a CSR-granting entity and does not distribute CSR funds to other organisations.

2. Purpose and Scope

This policy governs how NESPORTS FOUNDATION:

• Identifies and prioritises prospective CSR partner companies;
• Prepares and presents CSR funding proposals;
• Assesses how a company's CSR priorities align with the Foundation's mission;
• Negotiates, formalises, and manages CSR partnership agreements;
• Receives, ring-fences, and utilises CSR funds; and
• Reports on fund utilisation and maintains compliance with applicable law and governance standards.

It applies to every member of staff, Board member, and authorised representative of the Foundation engaged in CSR fundraising, partnership, or fund-utilisation activities.

3. Regulatory Alignment

The Foundation's programmes qualify as eligible CSR activities under Schedule VII of the Companies Act 2013. They map to the following Schedule VII heads:

A partner company may direct its CSR spend under any of the clauses above to the relevant Foundation programme, subject to confirmation by the company's own CSR Committee.

4. Foundation Programmes Eligible for CSR Funding

The programmes below make up the core portfolio open to CSR partners. A company may fund a single programme or structure a multi-programme partnership.

5. CSR Partner Eligibility Criteria

The Foundation will approach, and accept contributions from, companies that meet the following minimum criteria:

• The company is required to spend on CSR under Section 135 of the Companies Act 2013, or voluntarily chooses to deploy CSR funds in line with the Rules;
• The company's CSR policy permits funding in the areas covered by Schedule VII, Clauses (vii), (ii), (iii), or (x);
• The company faces no regulatory proceedings that would prevent it from entering a valid legal and financial agreement;
• The company is willing to contribute through a formal CSR Implementation Agreement with the Foundation; and
• The company's values and public conduct are consistent with the Foundation's commitment to athlete welfare, gender equity, and community development.

The Foundation reserves the right to decline a partnership where, in the Board's judgment, the association would compromise its integrity, independence, or mission.

6. How the Foundation Seeks CSR Support

Step 1 — Prospect Identification

The Foundation's CSR Partnerships team maintains a live list of eligible companies, drawn from public CSR disclosures, MCA-21 filings, industry networks, and referrals. Priority goes to companies with operations or a business presence in Northeast India, and to sectors aligned with the Foundation's themes (FMCG, telecom, BFSI, infrastructure, sports goods, and media).

Step 2 — Expression of Interest

An Expression of Interest (EoI) is sent to the company's CSR Committee, setting out the Foundation's mission, its eligible programmes, and the specific CSR need it can meet. The EoI includes a summary impact sheet and the Foundation's registration credentials.

Step 3 — Detailed Proposal

On a positive response, the Foundation submits a structured CSR Proposal containing:

• Programme description, objectives, and measurable outcomes;
• A proposed budget and a year-wise utilisation plan;
• Geographic scope and the target beneficiary profile;
• A Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) framework;
• Compliance documents — 12A, 80G, FCRA (if applicable), and Darpan registration; and
• Audited financial statements for the prior year.

Step 4 — Due Diligence

The Foundation co-operates fully with any due-diligence process the prospective partner initiates, including site visits, third-party verification, and document audits.

Step 5 — Agreement Execution

Approved partnerships are formalised in a CSR Implementation Agreement signed by the Foundation's Executive Director and an authorised representative of the partner company. The agreement specifies the fund quantum, disbursement schedule, programme targets, reporting obligations, branding rights, and exit clauses.

Step 6 — Implementation & Reporting

The Foundation delivers the agreed programme and submits periodic progress and utilisation reports on the schedule set out in the Agreement, followed by a final, independently verified impact report at programme close.

7. Fund Utilisation and Governance

Every CSR fund the Foundation receives is:

• Held in a separate, dedicated bank account or tracked through a dedicated cost-centre in the Foundation's accounts;
• Used exclusively for the programme(s) named in the CSR Implementation Agreement;
• Subject to annual statutory audit by a Chartered Accountant;
• Reported to the partner company through quarterly utilisation statements and an annual impact report;
• Disclosed in the Foundation's annual report and public accounts; and
• Refunded to the partner company to the extent of any unspent balance, in line with the agreement and applicable CSR rules, should the programme be discontinued.

The Board of Directors holds ultimate oversight of all CSR funds received, and the Finance & Audit Sub-Committee reviews utilisation each quarter.

8. Branding and Partner Recognition

All branding is subject to the Foundation's brand guidelines, and the Foundation retains editorial control over its content. Partner logos will not be placed on any content that conflicts with the partner's brand values.

9. Impact Metrics Reported to CSR Partners

NESPORTS FOUNDATION commits to reporting the following outcome indicators to every CSR partner:

Alongside programme-specific metrics, the Foundation provides fund-utilisation certificates, Chartered Accountant-certified utilisation statements, geotagged photographic documentation, and beneficiary testimonials.

10. Ethical Standards and Conflict of Interest

The Foundation holds itself to the highest standards of transparency and integrity in seeking and using CSR funds:

• No gifts, honoraria, or personal benefits are offered to, or accepted from, corporate representatives in connection with a CSR partnership;
• Any Board member or staff member with a personal or financial interest in a prospective partner must declare it and recuse themselves from related decisions;
• The Foundation will never misrepresent its activities, beneficiary numbers, or outcomes in any proposal or report;
• The Foundation will not accept CSR funds from companies whose activities are incompatible with its values (for example tobacco, weapons, or child exploitation); and
• Every CSR proposal and agreement is approved by the Executive Director and noted by the Board.

11. Compliance and Legal Framework

This policy operates within the following legal and regulatory framework:

• Section 135, Companies Act 2013 — corporate CSR obligations;
• Companies (CSR Policy) Rules 2014 (as amended to date);
• Schedule VII, Companies Act 2013 — eligible CSR activities;
• FCRA 2010 — foreign contribution regulations (where overseas funding is received);
• Income Tax Act 1961, Sections 12A and 80G — tax-exempt status and donor deductions;
• NGO-Darpan (NITI Aayog) registration requirements; and
• The Foundation's own Articles of Association and Board-approved financial policies.

12. Policy Review

This CSR Partnership Policy is reviewed annually by the Board of Directors, or sooner if there is a material change in the applicable law, the Foundation's scale of operations, or its programme portfolio. Amendments require Board approval.

13. Contact for CSR Partnerships

Approved by the Board of Directors
NESPORTS FOUNDATION
April 2026  |  Version 1.0

Disclaimer: This document is a policy statement of NESPORTS FOUNDATION governing how it seeks and utilises CSR partnerships. It does not constitute legal, financial, or regulatory advice to any corporate entity. Companies should consult their own CSR Committees and legal counsel before entering into any CSR partnership.