<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001251060-03-000002
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030815
<FILING-DATE>20030910
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>NIKOLAUS DONALD H
<CIK>0001251060
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-15341
<FILM-NUMBER>03889170
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1520 QUARRY ROAD
<STREET2>PO BOX 286
<CITY>SILVER SPRING
<STATE>PA
<ZIP>17575
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DONEGAL GROUP INC
<CIK>0000800457
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6331
<IRS-NUMBER>232424711
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1195 RIVER RD PO BOX 302
<CITY>MARIETTA
<STATE>PA
<ZIP>17547-0302
<PHONE>7174261931
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1195 RIVER ROAD
<STREET2>BOX 302
<CITY>MARIETTA
<STATE>PA
<ZIP>17547
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-15</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000800457</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DONEGAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DGICA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001251060</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NIKOLAUS DONALD H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1520 QUARRY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 286</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SILVER SPRING</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>17575</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4.942</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>722.132</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Dividend Reinvestment</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Donald H. Nikolaus</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
