How to choose a Non-Profit before donating?

A non-profit organization (NPO), also known as a non-governmental organization (NGO), is not driven by profit but by dedication to a given cause that is the target of all income beyond what it takes to run the organization.

The purpose of non-profit organizations is generally to improve the quality of life for others at a community, local, state, national, or even global level. These organizations are not dedicated to private or financial gain but the advancement of public interest.

In India, NGOs engage in a variety of activities, most of which are aimed at improving the socio-economic status of communities with limited resources. From providing direct benefits, like distributing nutritious food to malnourished individuals, to enabling, educating, and empowering people, like making a community realize the importance of sending their children to school, the work of NGOs has a far-reaching impact in helping underprivileged and deprived people progress ahead in life.

NGOs work for a variety of causes, depending on the objectives and purposes set by the organization. These objectives are further developed into initiatives and on-ground activities, most of which are funded by donations. Some of these causes are Child Rights, Poverty, Social Injustice, Environment Conservation, Human Rights, Care for elderly people, Women Empowerment, Wildlife Conservation, Animal Rights, Sanitation and Hygiene, Humanitarian Relief, Literacy and Education, Refugee Crisis, Disease Control, and others. Collaboration with civic agencies and other government agencies, at the district, state, and even national level, is done to carry out the work.

Before moving ahead with making a donation for any cause of your concern, it is important to verify an NGO. Mentioned below are some tips on how to check if an NGO is genuine.

Tips to choose an NGO to donate:

1.- Is it a reliable, genuine, and good non-profit organization?

The first step you need to take is to look for proper registration. Registered NGOs in India are eligible to obtain legal status, seek assistance from government agencies, contract funds, and support from the relevant departments. The NGOs registered under the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Registration Act), are eligible to get donations from foreign sources implying the great financial stability of the nonprofit.

Child Help Foundation has been successfully registered under the FCRA.

Many NGOs are legitimate, working diligently, and using donated funds honestly. However, there are exceptions and it is often not possible to tell whether an NGO is reliable or not from its online presence. Furthermore, it is not the time or cost-effective for a donor to physically determine if the charity they are donating to is a good one.

2.- Is it authentic and recognized?GuideStar is India’s largest and most reliable NGO information repository. Their portal consists of India's most exhaustive, fully searchable database of reliable and comparable information on over 10,000 NGOs. As an aggregator of NGO information, GuideStar India provides the information infrastructure for the philanthropy ecosystem.

GuideStar India is transforming how Indian NGOs report and share information. It is bringing about a change to the way people perceive, interact and engage with NGOs.

Child Help Foundation is registered under GuideStar India with a Gold Seal Certification.

3.- Are the donations Tax Deductible?

Making charitable donations is inherently selfless, but it can benefit donors as well. Donations can not only prove as a means to benefit society, but they could also benefit the donors themselves through tax exemptions.

All Donations made to Child Help Foundation get 50% Tax Exemption under 80G.

4.- Are the charity’s payment methods safe?

The donation process for any NGO is the most important step. It is essential to confirm that the safest payment methods are used by the organization, no matter where they are located. Online giving is incredibly convenient. It negates the distance between donors and charities, but it comes with a set of risks.

Unsafe payment methods can cause losses to donors and deprive charities and beneficiaries of much-needed funds.

Child Help Foundation takes these methods very seriously. We believe in maintaining accountability by creating a sense of transparency, so the donors feel confident in trusting us. CHF protects the donors' information by enforcing very high standards on credit card security.

Child Help Foundation website uses Positive SSL which ensures secure online transactions.

5.- What is their Online Presence/Website like?

A proper interpretation of an NGO is incomplete without studying their presence online, whether it be their social media or their website. It will give you a true idea of an NGO’s engagement, the conversations people are having about the NGO, and other qualitative factors. Most NGOs keep their websites up-to-date to keep the visitors/donors updated about their ongoing programs, especially the ones in need of urgent funds. You can also look into their media coverage to see what has been written about them.

6.- On-ground success rate

There are many NGOs dedicated exclusively to research and charities. Before donating, one should look at the on-ground involvement of the organization. Most activities under an NGO's ongoing programs require an active on-ground presence to work towards bettering society.

Studying this also involves looking at its projects in slums, cities, and other at-risk sites, on a case-by-case, problem-by-problem basis. On-ground work is a key component for benefiting communities.

Child Help Foundation has been actively working at the grassroots level for the past decade towards uplifting individuals, especially children from underprivileged classes. Under its various initiatives, CHF has built toilets for students from schools with poor infrastructures and has worked towards helping victims hit by natural disasters.

Identifying an NGO you want to support therefore involves an in-depth qualitative understanding. One needs to be passionate about a specific cause that aligns with the non-profit organization's vision. This allows you to also support the NGO, as social problems involve constant diligence, support, and enthusiasm. This diligence in identifying the right NGO before making a donation for charity is therefore necessary.

Child Help Foundation is a child-centric, non-profit organization known for its ethics, transparency, and ability to work at the forefront in the toughest of times. Along with a substantial donation tax rebate, the NGO truly generates the highest return on social investment, through well-researched and executed programs of medical support, relief, and education, among many others.

You can start your experience with us at Child Help Foundation, and donate to one of India's top NGOs.

Lastly, you can also try donating through ways other than money, such as getting involved by devoting your time and skills.

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