The current policy allows membership of VANI under three broad categories namely: i)Organisations ii) Individuals iii) Associates. The services extended to all the members remains equal, with the only difference being the first two categories having voting rights to elect Governing Body which is not available to the members falling under the associate category.

Given the rapidly changing landscape of the sector, and emergence of new players like Social Movements, Community Based Organisations, Social Enterprises, CSR Foundations, liaison offices of international organisations into the foray, VANI has been advised by its different stakeholders to revise the membership policy to make it more inclusive.

The ideated new membership strategy rejigs the Members and Associates categories into the following sub-categories:

1. Members: The members shall reserve the right to participate in the governance of VANI by electing the governing board members, as per set procedures stated in VANI's Memorandum of Association, during the annually organised General Body Meeting. These shall include:
   
   
2. Indian Voluntary Development Organisations (Indian VDOs):These shall be Voluntary Development Organisations with an institutional base registered in India. Indian VDOs shall be further sub-classified in the following manner on the basis of their annual turnover in the previous financial year:

1. Association:This may be an alliance, coalition, consortium, confederation, co-operative, registered in India and shares the concerns and works with Indian Voluntary Organisations.
   
   
2. Network: This shall include registered network* or group of voluntary development organisations working for social cause or theme at state/regional level within India.
   
   
3. Individual: These shall be individuals with record of voluntary action but not attached to any organisation at the time of registration.

*VANI shall support strengthening of existing State Level Networks like Mahavan (Maharashtra), UPVAN (Uttar Pradesh), Chagvan (Chattisgarh), Jharvan (Jharkhand), Madhyavan (Madhya Pradesh) and the regional level network being formed in North East. Formation ofsuch-like state networks shall be promoted in the other states for focussed state level initiatives and handholding for a stronger voluntary sector in the coming times.

1. Associates: These members shall have access to similar set of services provided to the members. However, associates shall NOT be entitled to participate in governance activities of VANI. They shall NOT be entitled to vote to elect the governing board of VANI, during the Annual General meeting. The category shall include.
   
   
2. Liaison Offices: These shall include branch offices of any foreign NGO/donor/ grant making/ funding agency set up in India.
   
   
3. CSR Units: These shall include Corporate Social Responsibility Departments or are a part of for-profit Companies or entities set up under the Indian Companies Act, 1956.
   
   
4. International NGOs (INGOs): These are not-for-profit voluntary associations operating at international, transnational, or global level, with members or participants from many countries.
   
   
5. Multilateral Organisations: These shall include organisations that obtain funds from different governments and spend it in development/social projects in different countries. These include organisations like European Union, UNDP and so on.
   
   
6. Academic, Research and Policy Analysis Institutions: These shall include institutions like Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Ashoka University and so on, associated with voluntary organisations and engaged in academic and social research and policy analysis on social transformation projects and regulatory framework.
   
   
7. Social Movements/Thematic Groups: These shall include like-minded non-registered social movements, thematic groups, coalitions, campaigns working on social causes.