Becoming an ETS today: what really changes and why bylaws are the heart of the entity

Becoming ETS

(with clear passages, official sources, and small real-world examples to help understand)

When an association chooses to become an Entity of the Third Sector (ETS), it is not simply carrying out a formal update. It is redefining its public identity: it becomes a recognized, transparent entity that is officially included in the national Third Sector network governed by the Third Sector Code (Legislative Decree 117/2017).

The Ministry of Labor, in its official guidelines, describes this transformation as a path toward greater quality, accountability and access to dedicated tools.

1. The statutes: the true “identity card” of an ETS.

Many associations discover only at this stage how much more than a document a statute is: it is where the body takes shape, with rules, goals and internal structure.

To become an ETS, the bylaws must clearly state civic and charitable purposes, describe activities of general interest, state how members are recruited, how the assembly works, what the powers of the corporate bodies are, and how the prohibition of profit distribution is guaranteed.

Practical example:
A cultural association that organizes theater courses discovers that, in order to be ETS, it must indicate in its bylaws that the activities offered are expressly among those covered by Article 5 of the Code (e.g., education, training, culture). This simple detail completely changes the validity of the RUNTS application.

The guidance comes from the official statutory models published by the Ministry of Labor, which serve as a reference but do not replace the customization necessary for each reality.

2. The path to enrollment: RUNTS, verifications and interlocutions.

After the bylaws are approved, RUNTS registration is done through the Ministry’s national platform. Here begins the most delicate phase: verification by regional offices.

RUNTS checks the overall consistency of the entity: declared activities, budgets, presence of volunteers, regularity of meetings. This step is essential to ensure that the entity is operating in compliance with the reform.
For some social and health activities, USL or Region also come into play.

Practical example:
A small child support association uploads the RUNTS application, but the office requests clarification because the budget does not distinguish income from core activities and miscellaneous activities. It is a simple detail, but without correction the application is not accepted.

The RUNTS portal, with its official FAQ, clearly explains when and how to integrate.

3. The new digital environment of ETS: between budgets, transparency and platforms

Becoming an ETS also means learning how to live in a more digital environment.
The budget must be filed online in RUNTS every year.
If the entity accesses the 5×1000, it must carry out the procedures through the telematic services of the Internal Revenue Service.
If it has volunteers, it must manage the registry and mandatory insurances.

It is not just bureaucracy: it is a way to make the institution understandable and trustworthy to citizens, supporters and institutions.

Practical example:
A sports association that works with youth decides to regularly publish on its website the contributions it receives from the municipality and the compensation of its instructors. This simple gesture of transparency – required by legislation – also becomes a sign of credibility to families.

Some regions also have their own platforms for accreditation or calls dedicated to the Third Sector.

4. The role of the Notary Firm: order, security and clarity

Many entities arrive at the transformation to ETS with dated bylaws, uneven minutes, unsystematically filed paperwork. This is normal: for years they have prioritized the activities, not the legal part.

The notary becomes the interlocutor who puts things in order: he analyzes the bylaws, rewrites them in a compliant manner, guides the extraordinary meeting, and accompanies the entity in its registration with the RUNTS.
The National Council of Notaries, in its studies dedicated to the Third Sector, emphasizes the guarantee role played by the notary’s office in phases such as transformations, mergers, dissolution, or profound changes in the associative structure.

Practical example:
A historic voluntary association decides to evolve into an APS to expand its activities and access regional grants. The notary firm reorganizes the bylaws, adjusts governance, verifies minimum requirements, and follows the entire RUNTS path to full registration. In less than two months, the entity obtains a new and stable legal framework.

A choice for growth

Becoming ETS is not an imposed change: it is a choice that brings with it more recognition, funding opportunities, new collaborations, and a more orderly structure.
It is a path that requires accountability, but it allows the institution to strengthen its mission and communicate its value in a transparent way.

With clear bylaws, a defined identity and appropriate professional support, any association can face this transition with peace of mind and awareness, turning a fulfillment into an opportunity.

Authoritative sources
Ministry of Labor and Social Policy – Third Sector
RUNTS – Single National Registry of the Third Sector

National Council of Notaries – Insights
https://www.notariato.it