The space of philanthropy has been growing rapidly over the past few years in India. Many NGOs and social organizations have been growing, and are able to create a wider impact on communities and families in need. A lot of altruistic individuals have also set up self-help groups, fundraisers, clubs and trusts towards charitable causes. Since there are so many options available to do social good, you can choose one or more that fits with your personal values and goals. Before deciding which kind of NGO you can donate to, here are some questions you can ask yourself:
1. What cause do you believe in?
Different organizations are established to work towards different causes and objectives. Some of the most common NGOs aim towards eliminating hunger, improving education and literacy, bringing equality for girl children and protecting the environment. Once you pick a cause that is close to your core values, you can begin doing research on finding NGOs working in that area.
2. What cluster of NGOs should I look for?
Based on what cause you have chosen to contribute towards, the next step will be to narrow down certain NGOs working towards a similar goal. For example, food NGOs in India aim to reduce malnourishment by serving meals and ration packets to people in need. Some of them help to implement the mid-day meal scheme to serve wholesome meals to school going children to reduce childhood hunger and improve literacy rates, while some distribute packaged foods to the poor. On the other hand, NGOs working towards protecting the environment run initiatives to plant more trees, clean water bodies, set up recycling drives etc.
3. Which NGO/NGOs should I donate to?
The final step will be narrowing down which organizations you would like to donate to. You should conduct proper research on different NGOs and then choose one that is the most reliable and trustworthy. While going through this step you should go through the NGOs website, financial statements and social media pages to make sure your money is going towards the right cause. You should also make sure that the payment gateways available on the NGOs page are safe and secure. Make sure to collect the receipts and understand the different tax exemptions available as well.