As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 24, 1996.

                                                   Registration No. 333-

===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                              --------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                              --------------------

                               DONEGAL GROUP INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Delaware                                  23-2424711
(State or other jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

               1195 River Road
           Marietta, Pennsylvania                                  17547
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                        (Zip Code)

                              --------------------

                               DONEGAL GROUP INC.
                           1996 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)
                              --------------------


                          Donald H. Nikolaus, President
                               Donegal Group Inc.
                                 1195 River Road
                          Marietta, Pennsylvania 17547
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (717) 426-1931
                     (Telephone number, including area code,
                              of agent for service)
                              --------------------


                                    Copy to:
                            Kathleen M. Shay, Esquire
                            Duane, Morris & Heckscher
                                One Liberty Place
                           Philadelphia, PA 19103-7396

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
============================================================================================================
                                                   Proposed              Proposed
  Title of securities     Amount to be         maximum offering      maximum aggregate         Amount of
   to be registered       registered(1)       price per share(2)     offering price(2)     registration fee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>                        <C>                <C>                      <C>   
Common Stock,            345,850 shares             $17.41             $6,021,248.50            $2,077
par value $1.00
============================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)   In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933,
      this registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of
      interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the Donegal Group Inc. 1996
      Equity Incentive Plan.

(2)   Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee based
      on the average of the high and low sales prices of the Common Stock of the
      Company on the Nasdaq Stock Market on June 17, 1996, or $17.41 per share.



<PAGE>



                               DONEGAL GROUP INC.


                              Cross-Reference Sheet
                    Pursuant to Item 501(b) of Regulation S-K



Item Number and Caption                                   Heading in Prospectus
- -----------------------                                   ---------------------

1.     Plan Information.................................            *

2.     Registrant Information and Employee
       Plan Annual Information..........................            *



- ---------------
*      Omitted because no Prospectus is being filed herewith. All information
       required in the Section 10(a) Prospectus will be furnished to plan
       participants pursuant to a memorandum or other plan documents, as
       supplemented or amended from time to time.




<PAGE>



                                     PART II

                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The following material is incorporated herein by reference:

     (a) The Annual Report on Form 10-K of Donegal Group Inc. (the "Company")
for the year ended December 31, 1995 as filed by the Company with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").

     (b) The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended
March 31, 1996 as filed by the Company with the Commission.

     (c) The description of the Company's Common Stock set forth in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Act") on October 29, 1986 under the
caption "Description of Capital Stock," "Dividend Policy" and
"Business--Regulation," which is incorporated by reference in response to Item 1
of the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed by the Company with the
Commission on January 27, 1987 pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act").

     All reports or other documents filed pursuant to Sections 13, 14 and 15(d)
of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement, in
each case filed by the Company prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of such reports and documents. Any statement contained in a document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to
be modified or superseded for the purposes of this Registration Statement to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document, which also is or is deemed to be incorporated herein by reference,
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded
shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part
of this Registration Statement.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

     No answer to this item is required because the class of securities to be
offered is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

     The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company as of
December 31, 1995 and 1994 and for each of the years in the three-year period
ended December 31, 1995 have

                                      II-1

<PAGE>

been incorporated by reference herein and in this Registration Statement in
reliance upon the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public
accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said
firm as experts in accounting and auditing. Such reports refer to a change in
the Company's method of accounting for investment securities by adopting the
provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115 "Accounting
for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities."

     The validity of the issuance of the shares of Common Stock registered
hereby will be passed upon for the Company by Duane, Morris & Heckscher,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the
fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe
such person's conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or
proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, does not, of itself, create a presumption that the
person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and,
with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to
believe that such person's conduct was unlawful.

     In the case of an action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to
procure a judgment in its favor, Section 145 empowers a corporation to indemnify
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by reason of the fact that such
person is or was acting in any of the capacities set forth above against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such
person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that
indemnification is not permitted in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which such person is adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to
the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit
was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of
Chancery or such other court deems proper.


                                      II-2

<PAGE>

     Section 145 further provides: that a Delaware corporation is required to
indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection
with any action, suit or proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein as to which such person has been successful on the merits or otherwise;
that indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive
of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; that
indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided
when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of such
person's heirs, executors and administrators; and empowers the corporation to
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a director or officer against any
liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such
capacity or arising out of such person's status as such whether or not the
corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability
under Section 145. A Delaware corporation may provide indemnification only as
authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the
director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such
person has met the applicable standard of conduct. Such determination is to be
made (i) by the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of
directors who were not party to such action, suit or proceeding, or (ii) if such
a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested
directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iii)
by the stockholders.

     Article Five of the Company's By-laws provides for indemnification of
directors and officers of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as presently or hereafter in
effect. The By-laws of Donegal Mutual Insurance Company also provide that
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company shall indemnify to the full extent authorized
by law any director or officer of Donegal Mutual Insurance Company who is made,
or threatened to be made, a party to any action or proceeding, whether criminal,
civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was
serving as a director, officer or employee of the Company at the request of
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company.

     The Company provides liability insurance for directors and officers for
certain losses arising from claims or charges made against them while acting in
their capacities as directors or officers of the Company up to an aggregate of
$5,000,000 inclusive of defense costs, expenses and charges.

     Additionally, as permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, Article Six of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides
that no director of the Company shall incur personal liability to the Company or
its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of such person's fiduciary duty
as a director; provided, however, that the provision does not eliminate or limit
the liability of a director for (i) any breach of the director's duty of loyalty
to the Company or its stockholders; (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or
which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) the
unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful purchase or redemption of stock under
Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; or (iv) any
transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.


                                      II-3

<PAGE>



Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

     No answer to this item is required because no restricted securities are to
be reoffered or resold pursuant to this Registration Statement.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

(4)        Donegal Group Inc. 1996 Equity Incentive Plan.

(5)        Opinion of Duane, Morris & Heckscher.

(23)(A)    Consent of Duane, Morris & Heckscher (included in their opinion
           filed as Exhibit 5).

(23)(B)    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

(24)       Power of Attorney (see page II-6 of this Registration Statement).

Item 9.  Undertakings.

     The registrant hereby undertakes:

     (a) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the
Registration Statement;

     (b) that for the purpose of determining any liability under the Act, each
such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offer thereof; and

     (c) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

     The undersigned registrant hereby further undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Act, each filing of the registrant's annual
report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and,
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference
in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     The undersigned registrant hereby further undertakes that, insofar as
indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may be permitted to
directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such

                                      II-4

<PAGE>



indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.


                                      II-5

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Marietta, Pennsylvania on June 20, 1996.

                                        DONEGAL GROUP INC.


                                        By: /s/ DONALD H. NIKOLAUS
                                           ---------------------------------
                                           Donald H. Nikolaus, President


     Know all men by these presents, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Donald H. Nikolaus and Ralph G. Spontak, and each
or either of them, as such person's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution, for such person, and in such person's
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any or all amendments
or post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, or any of them or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in
the capacities and on the date indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                                                     Title                           Date
- ---------                                                     -----                           ----
<S>                                             <C>                                           <C>

/s/ C. Edwin Ireland                           Chairman of the Board and a Director           June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------
C. Edwin Ireland

/s/ Donald H. Nikolaus                               President and a Director                 June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------               (principal executive officer)
Donald H. Nikolaus

/s/ Ralph G. Spontak                          Senior Vice President, Chief Financial          June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------                 Officer and Secretary 
Ralph G. Spontak                                   (principal financial and
                                                      accounting officer)
                                                   

/s/ Patricia A. Gilmartin                                    Director                         June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------
Patricia A. Gilmartin

</TABLE>

                                      II-6

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                                                     Title                           Date
- ---------                                                     -----                           ----
<S>                                                         <C>                               <C>
/s/ Philip H. Glatfelter, II                                 Director                         June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------
Philip H. Glatfelter, II

/s/ R. Richard Sherbahn                                      Director                         June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------
R. Richard Sherbahn

/s/ Thomas J. Finley, Jr.                                    Director                         June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------
Thomas J. Finley, Jr.

/s/ Robert S. Bolinger                                       Director                         June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------
Robert S. Bolinger

</TABLE>



                                      II-7

<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

                    (Pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K)


Exhibit No.                Exhibit                               Reference
- -----------                -------                               ---------
 
(4)            Donegal Group Inc. 1996 Equity                  Filed herewith
               Incentive Plan

(5)            Opinion of Duane, Morris & Heckscher.           Filed herewith

(23)(A)        Consent of Duane, Morris & Heckscher
               (included in their opinion filed
               as Exhibit 5).

(23)(B)        Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.               Filed herewith

(24)           Power of Attorney (see Page II-6 of this
               Registration Statement).
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "REGISTRATION STATEMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 22792}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "DONEGAL GROUP INC", "cik": "0000800457", "assigned-sic": "6331", "irs-number": "232424711", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-06681", "film-number": "96584641"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1195 RIVER RD PO BOX 302", "city": "MARIETTA", "state": "PA", "zip": "17547-0302", "phone": "7174261931"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1195 RIVER ROAD", "street2": "BOX 302", "city": "MARIETTA", "state": "PA", "zip": "17547"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 24, 1996.

                                                   Registration No. 333-

===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                              --------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                              --------------------

                               DONEGAL GROUP INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Delaware                                  23-2424711
(State or other jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

               1195 River Road
           Marietta, Pennsylvania                                  17547
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                        (Zip Code)

                              --------------------

                               DONEGAL GROUP INC.
                           1996 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)
                              --------------------

                          Donald H. Nikolaus, President
                               Donegal Group Inc.
                                 1195 River Road
                          Marietta, Pennsylvania 17547
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (717) 426-1931
                     (Telephone number, including area code,
                              of agent for service)
                              --------------------

                                    Copy to:
                            Kathleen M. Shay, Esquire
                            Duane, Morris & Heckscher
                                One Liberty Place
                           Philadelphia, PA 19103-7396

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
============================================================================================================
                                                   Proposed              Proposed
  Title of securities     Amount to be         maximum offering      maximum aggregate         Amount of
   to be registered       registered(1)       price per share(2)     offering price(2)     registration fee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock,            345,850 shares             $17.41             $6,021,248.50            $2,077
par value $1.00
============================================================================================================
(1)   In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933,
      this registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of
      interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the Donegal Group Inc. 1996
      Equity Incentive Plan.

(2)   Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee based
      on the average of the high and low sales prices of the Common Stock of the
      Company on the Nasdaq Stock Market on June 17, 1996, or $17.41 per share.
DONEGAL GROUP INC.

                              Cross-Reference Sheet
                    Pursuant to Item 501(b) of Regulation S-K

Item Number and Caption                                   Heading in Prospectus
- -----------------------                                   ---------------------

1.     Plan Information.................................            *

2.     Registrant Information and Employee
       Plan Annual Information..........................            *

- ---------------
*      Omitted because no Prospectus is being filed herewith. All information
       required in the Section 10(a) Prospectus will be furnished to plan
       participants pursuant to a memorandum or other plan documents, as
       supplemented or amended from time to time.
PART II

                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The following material is incorporated herein by reference:

     (a) The Annual Report on Form 10-K of Donegal Group Inc. (the "Company")
for the year ended December 31, 1995 as filed by the Company with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").

     (b) The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended
March 31, 1996 as filed by the Company with the Commission.

     (c) The description of the Company's Common Stock set forth in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Act") on October 29, 1986 under the
caption "Description of Capital Stock," "Dividend Policy" and
"Business--Regulation," which is incorporated by reference in response to Item 1
of the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed by the Company with the
Commission on January 27, 1987 pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act").

     All reports or other documents filed pursuant to Sections 13, 14 and 15(d)
of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement, in
each case filed by the Company prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of such reports and documents. Any statement contained in a document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to
be modified or superseded for the purposes of this Registration Statement to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document, which also is or is deemed to be incorporated herein by reference,
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded
shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part
of this Registration Statement.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

     No answer to this item is required because the class of securities to be
offered is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

     The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company as of
December 31, 1995 and 1994 and for each of the years in the three-year period
ended December 31, 1995 have

                                      II-1
been incorporated by reference herein and in this Registration Statement in
reliance upon the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public
accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said
firm as experts in accounting and auditing. Such reports refer to a change in
the Company's method of accounting for investment securities by adopting the
provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115 "Accounting
for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities."

     The validity of the issuance of the shares of Common Stock registered
hereby will be passed upon for the Company by Duane, Morris & Heckscher,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the
fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe
such person's conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or
proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, does not, of itself, create a presumption that the
person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and,
with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to
believe that such person's conduct was unlawful.

     In the case of an action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to
procure a judgment in its favor, Section 145 empowers a corporation to indemnify
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by reason of the fact that such
person is or was acting in any of the capacities set forth above against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such
person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that
indemnification is not permitted in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which such person is adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to
the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit
was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of
Chancery or such other court deems proper.

                                      II-2
Section 145 further provides: that a Delaware corporation is required to
indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection
with any action, suit or proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein as to which such person has been successful on the merits or otherwise;
that indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive
of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; that
indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided
when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of such
person's heirs, executors and administrators; and empowers the corporation to
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a director or officer against any
liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such
capacity or arising out of such person's status as such whether or not the
corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability
under Section 145. A Delaware corporation may provide indemnification only as
authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the
director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such
person has met the applicable standard of conduct. Such determination is to be
made (i) by the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of
directors who were not party to such action, suit or proceeding, or (ii) if such
a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested
directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iii)
by the stockholders.

     Article Five of the Company's By-laws provides for indemnification of
directors and officers of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as presently or hereafter in
effect. The By-laws of Donegal Mutual Insurance Company also provide that
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company shall indemnify to the full extent authorized
by law any director or officer of Donegal Mutual Insurance Company who is made,
or threatened to be made, a party to any action or proceeding, whether criminal,
civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was
serving as a director, officer or employee of the Company at the request of
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company.

     The Company provides liability insurance for directors and officers for
certain losses arising from claims or charges made against them while acting in
their capacities as directors or officers of the Company up to an aggregate of
$5,000,000 inclusive of defense costs, expenses and charges.

     Additionally, as permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, Article Six of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides
that no director of the Company shall incur personal liability to the Company or
its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of such person's fiduciary duty
as a director; provided, however, that the provision does not eliminate or limit
the liability of a director for (i) any breach of the director's duty of loyalty
to the Company or its stockholders; (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or
which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) the
unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful purchase or redemption of stock under
Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; or (iv) any
transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

                                      II-3
Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

     No answer to this item is required because no restricted securities are to
be reoffered or resold pursuant to this Registration Statement.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

(4)        Donegal Group Inc. 1996 Equity Incentive Plan.

(5)        Opinion of Duane, Morris & Heckscher.

(23)(A)    Consent of Duane, Morris & Heckscher (included in their opinion
           filed as Exhibit 5).

(23)(B)    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

(24)       Power of Attorney (see page II-6 of this Registration Statement).

Item 9.  Undertakings.

     The registrant hereby undertakes:

     (a) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the
Registration Statement;

     (b) that for the purpose of determining any liability under the Act, each
such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offer thereof; and

     (c) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

     The undersigned registrant hereby further undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Act, each filing of the registrant's annual
report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and,
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference
in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     The undersigned registrant hereby further undertakes that, insofar as
indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may be permitted to
directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such

                                      II-4
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

                                      II-5
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Marietta, Pennsylvania on June 20, 1996.

                                        DONEGAL GROUP INC.

                                        By: /s/ DONALD H. NIKOLAUS
                                           ---------------------------------
                                           Donald H. Nikolaus, President

     Know all men by these presents, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Donald H. Nikolaus and Ralph G. Spontak, and each
or either of them, as such person's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution, for such person, and in such person's
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any or all amendments
or post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, or any of them or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in
the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature                                                     Title                           Date
- ---------                                                     -----                           ----
/s/ C. Edwin Ireland                           Chairman of the Board and a Director           June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------
C. Edwin Ireland

/s/ Donald H. Nikolaus                               President and a Director                 June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------               (principal executive officer)
Donald H. Nikolaus

/s/ Ralph G. Spontak                          Senior Vice President, Chief Financial          June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------                 Officer and Secretary 
Ralph G. Spontak                                   (principal financial and
                                                      accounting officer)
                                                   

/s/ Patricia A. Gilmartin                                    Director                         June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------
Patricia A. Gilmartin
II-6
Signature                                                     Title                           Date
- ---------                                                     -----                           ----
/s/ Philip H. Glatfelter, II                                 Director                         June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------
Philip H. Glatfelter, II

/s/ R. Richard Sherbahn                                      Director                         June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------
R. Richard Sherbahn

/s/ Thomas J. Finley, Jr.                                    Director                         June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------
Thomas J. Finley, Jr.

/s/ Robert S. Bolinger                                       Director                         June 20, 1996
- ------------------------------------
Robert S. Bolinger
II-7
EXHIBIT INDEX

                    (Pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K)

Exhibit No.                Exhibit                               Reference
- -----------                -------                               ---------
 
(4)            Donegal Group Inc. 1996 Equity                  Filed herewith
               Incentive Plan

(5)            Opinion of Duane, Morris & Heckscher.           Filed herewith

(23)(A)        Consent of Duane, Morris & Heckscher
               (included in their opinion filed
               as Exhibit 5).

(23)(B)        Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.               Filed herewith

(24)           Power of Attorney (see Page II-6 of this
               Registration Statement).