Social Crowdfunding – How Can It Make A Difference To The Working Of An NGO?

Without a doubt, NGOs and nonprofit organizations do a lot to make the lives of the unprivileged better. For that, finances and other resources are in need, and motivating others to donate can be a difficult task. At this point, the option of social crowdfunding comes in really handy. It enlists the help of individual investors, contributors, family members, and friends. Compared to the traditional method of raising funds, it is quite effective.

Many children NGOs in India are now conducting their own crowdfunding campaigns to solicit online contributions directly from their donors and their donors’ social networks to support particular, time-sensitive projects or campaigns. Despite their enormous potential, most campaigns are local in nature, with the bulk of contributions hailing from a single nation. It is obvious that by targeting international donors, one can get better funds, and crowdfunding through social media channels can be an optimum option for the same.

food donation

Other than that, there are a number of other benefits like –

• Cost-Effective

It is an undeniable fact that different crowdfunding platforms are way too cost-effective than the traditional methods for raising funds. Crowdfunding websites only take a tiny percentage of the total amount received as a fee which is far less than the conventional means of advertising and fundraising. To attract donors, all you need is a convincing tale and a unique advertising plan.

• Helpful In Website Management

It is often seen that many food NGOs and non-profits are not aware of the right way for arranging funds and gathering knowledge to develop and manage a website. Every user of a crowdfunding platform gets their website. Every crowdfunding campaign receives a personalised and customised web page that explains its cause and makes its campaign more approachable to contributors.

• Creative Campaign Presentation

Through the storytelling method, you can easily engage the audience to be a part of your cause. Other than that, engaging fundraising campaigns are really helpful to get a fundraising campaign off to a great start.

• Better Marketing

It is an undeniable fact that to get the attention of the people, you need to come across them. It is only possible through the right marketing technique. From launch through the final feedback stage, you can have complete control over the campaign’s marketing efforts. By analyzing the reaction of target audiences, you can easily adjust promotional activity. Nowadays, there is an abundance of marketing platforms available to make you get the limelight of more and more donors. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram may be used to provide useful information on NGO initiatives and connect with internet users all around the world. In 2020 at the time of the pandemic, a huge success can be seen in an online donation for corona relief through social media platforms.

As per the statistics, the donation and rewards crowdfunding sectors of the crowdfunding business alone raised $5.5 billion in the previous year. Crowdfunding allows the NGOs and Non Profits to access a larger audience while also reducing fundraising time, cost, and effort.

Conclusion

Through effective fundraising activities, crowdfunding platforms are giving crucial momentum to entrepreneurs. All you have to do is choose a reputable crowdfunding platform and put up an appealing campaign. Your campaign will be promoted to a wide range of contributors and investors by the service provider.

How does hunger affect our country’s literacy?

The relationship between nourishment and education is something that we are all aware of. Even after seventy-five years of independence, some families cannot provide their members with two square meals per day. With continuous deprivation of food, individuals fail to reach their optimum level of growth. With the unavailability of nutritious food, many develop signs of inadequate growth. Along with that different health issues also crop up. 

There are various researches which prove that a large part of malnourishment is seen to begin in the childhood years. The unavailability of quality food in the right amount results in large-scale child morbidity. Undernourishment makes children perform poorly in academics as well. Many times, it has been noticed that children ngo drop out due to a lack of encouragement from their surroundings. Hunger issues have long affected the case of literacy and further education in the country. 

food ngo

Economic poverty and lack of knowledge have led families to look over the matter of malnourishment and subsequent failing growth of the children. The unavailability of food resources has made children skip meals or at times neglect their hunger. The inadequate intake of food has hampered the learning capability of the children. The pupils have shown troubles in grasping basic education like mathematics, difficulty in learning and remembering the usage of proper language, and such. 

In order to tackle the situation, the mid-day meal program was initiated by the government of India in the year 1995. In the year 2001, the government made the implementation of mid-day meals mandatory. 

The effect of mid-day meals

The government of India took a great initiative to keep a check on the correlation between education and hunger. The mid-day meal scheme was formulated and brought into action by the government to fight the above-mentioned cause. Food NGOs serving mid-day meals generally cater to government-run and government-aided schools. There are innumerable NGOs that supply schools with mid-day meals. This has been viewed as a great incentive by the parents. They automatically feel encouraged to send their children to schools, thereby helping in enhancing the literacy rate by big numbers. It has been proved that with the right nourishment, the child could even complete their school education and enroll in further studies. 

What types of NGOs are helping children in India overcome the challenges they are facing?

In the past decade, we have seen how the youth of India have taken our country leaps forward through their achievements in science, sports, and entrepreneurship. These young minds truly can bring in the necessary positive changes for the long-term development of our nation. The unfortunate truth remains that not all our young minds are on the same playing field. As we see a young Indian represent the country in a national science fest, we also see children begging on the streets, working at construction sites, or living in slums. 

As many children still lack access to necessities such as food and education, the government has initiated several schemes directed towards youth development. Besides this, NGOs and social organizations in the country have also dedicated efforts to help address different challenges faced by these young children. 

Mid day meal

Food NGOs: The top Food NGOs in India have been working to address the issues of childhood hunger and malnourishment. They usually work alongside the government to implement the mid-day meal programme to provide wholesome and nourishing meals to children attending government-aided and unaided schools. 

Education NGOs: These organizations have been working to improve the literacy rate and the quality of education in the country. NGOs aim to support children in accessing their right to education and create an educational environment where they can thrive and develop. Education NGOs collect funds to improve the infrastructure of schools, form student groups to ensure attendance, and conduct awareness workshops with parents to ensure they send their children to school regularly. They also introduce teachers and staff to innovative teaching and delivery methods to improve the quality of education children receive. 

Healthcare NGOs: The healthcare NGOs in India are working to improve the healthcare services and awareness of people in underprivileged communities. Many children suffer from diseases and illnesses due to a lack of accessibility and availability of adequate healthcare facilities. Healthcare NGOs are doing their bit to support these children by setting up vaccination camps, distributing free medicines, and conducting frequent health check-ups. A simple act of kindness can ensure that another young child is not deprived of basic necessities anymore. Donate money to NGOs working towards child welfare and development to help drive real change for generations to come. 

What are the differences between volunteering and donating money to NGOs?

Volunteering personal time and donating money to NGOs working towards a social cause are two sides of the same coin. Both these actions come from a place of wanting to do good for society and the desire to promote the welfare of others. In India, many people have chosen to take up the path of volunteering or consistently donating for a cause they believe in. If you are looking to contribute towards a social cause in any way, let us dive deeper into understanding the nuances of both volunteering and donating funds. 

Time: Volunteers tend to dedicate more of their time to support the NGO activities at the ground level. Individuals choose to volunteer at different times during the year and for varying durations. Donating on the other hand does not require as much time as volunteering. However, donors will have to do proper research about different organizations before they donate money to NGOs.  

Volunteer Charity and Relief Work Donation Help Concept

Ease of contribution: Donating funds and volunteering, both are generous forms of doing your bit for society, but both are very different in terms of the ease of contributing. As most people tend to be busy with personal, professional, or family obligations, they find that making direct education donations is much easier. Individuals may find it difficult to volunteer due to other reasons such as distance to NGOs, travelling costs, etc. Even while citizens want to volunteer, some people find it difficult to find suitable NGOs that require volunteers at that point in time. 

Physical capabilities: NGO projects may require volunteers to be physically active and do a lot of heavy lifting, moving around, and building structures in different conditions. Volunteering thus may be a strenuous activity, and may not be suitable for everyone. Donating on the other hand can be done by everyone willing to, from the comfort of your homes. 

If you choose to donate money to NGOs or be an active volunteer, you are extending a very helpful hand towards organizations working to curtail the serious issues that exist within our country. Volunteers and donors hold the potential to make a substantial difference in the projects undertaken by NGOs to improve the well-being of fellow Indians. It is important for you to understand your capabilities, restrictions, and personal preferences before you choose to go down either of the paths of philanthropy. 

5 things you need to know about saving tax by making an NGO donation in India

Individuals from different walks of life including philanthropic individuals and business owners donate money to NGOs to extend a hand of support to the most vulnerable members of our community. Some people donate as they feel it is their duty to, while some donate to feel a sense of satisfaction that they have helped someone in need. Each person has their own reason to donate towards a cause they believe in, but one of the unique parts is that each of these individuals is eligible to claim a tax deduction while doing so! 

• Tax deductions under section 80 (G): How does it work?

When an individual makes a contribution to certain registered NGOs or charitable trusts in India, this donor is eligible to claim a tax deduction. This financial exclusion will result in the total taxable income reduction. The Government of India has initiated this type of deduction to encourage more donations towards charitable causes. 

• What tax benefit do donors get?

The amount of tax exemption varies across different Food NGOs. The majority of donations are either eligible for a 50% deduction or a 100% deduction. These deductions are then adjusted with an individual’s salary and the gross total income. 

• What mode of payment should donors use?

According to the revised income tax rules, any donation made in cash exceeding Rs 2000 will not be eligible for a tax deduction. Donations above this amount can be made through cheque, net banking, or UPI platforms to qualify for a deduction. In-kind donations such as food, books, and stationery are appreciated by NGOs, however, these donations cannot be quantified correctly, so cannot be claimed for a tax exemption. 

• What documents should be collected?

Donors should ensure that they collect the donation receipt which should include the correct name of the individual, the NGO, date of donation, and the amount donated. This will be used as proof of payment while filing taxes at the end of the year. 

•  Can NRIs claim tax deductions under section 80 (G)?

Non-resident Indians who currently hold an Indian passport are eligible to claim a deduction if they make a donation. NRIs must mention their PAN card number while making the payment to receive the donation certificate. 

How has the mid-day meal scheme progressed over the years in India?

History of the mid-day meal scheme

The roots of the mid-day meal scheme can be traced back to the pre-independence era in India, wherein Britain’s administration introduced the scheme in the 1920s. A handful of states began implementing similar programmes through the years, but the official scheme was launched in 1995. Towards the end of 2001, the Supreme Court of India passed a landmark decision mandating the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme across the nation. This decision directed all government-assisted and non-assisted schools to be required to provide cooked meals to all the students. 

Aims of the mid-day meal scheme

The mid-day meal scheme was launched to take the burden of feeding children away from low-income families who could not afford to. The intent was to improve the nutritional status of children by providing high-quality, nutritious food, and ultimately mitigating malnourishment and starvation in the nation. The initiative also aimed to incentivize more children to attend school, absorb the lessons taught and participate in activities. 

Mid day meal scheme

Impact created 

The scheme has shown to have a positive cascading impact across several states in India. The wholesome meals provided have protected many children from the effects of malnourishment. The rates of school enrolments and regular attendance have also risen. This is a large sign of progress as many families in the past had put a pause on their children’s education and pushed them towards labor or early marriage. 

The mid-day meal programme has also protected young children from classroom hunger, allowing them to focus and grasp the concepts of the curriculum, without feeling weak or lethargic. The nutrition provided has prevented the stunting of physical and mental growth amongst children. As children grow older and can concentrate in the classroom, they are able to fully leverage the power of education. Through this, children widen their skill set and improve their chances of being employed. 

The initiative has also been seen to improve social equity, as children of different castes and creeds receive their meals together. This encourages socialization and reduces the scope of discrimination amongst groups.  

Future of the scheme

The mid-day meal scheme has not only mitigated short-term issues but has held many communities in good stead for the future. The parties responsible for the implementation of the scheme must continue to focus on providing the highest quality of meals, containing adequate quantities of nourishment for growing children.

How have online donations accelerated philanthropy during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread devastation across the country. The effects of the pandemic have been so severe that it may have disrupted decades of progress made in terms of poverty eradication, uplifting education, and improving the welfare of citizens. 

The struggles of marginalized communities across India were made evident through the different broadcast and social media platforms. The plight of the citizens who witnessed their fellow Indians struggle on a daily basis was that they wanted to lend a helping hand but were unable to do so due to lockdown restrictions. Even though individuals across the nation were confined to their homes, the feeling of wanting to show support and solidarity remained strong. 

The simple solution: A hassle-free online donation

NGOs, charitable organizations, and noble individuals have stood up as warriors to help our nation win the battle against COVID-19 by helping out in different ways. These agents of change were able to bring about positive change and provide aid to numerous struggling communities during these trying times. 

The simplest way an ordinary citizen can extend a hand of support from the comfort of their homes is by making a simple online donation for poor child education towards a cause they support. With technological advancements, individuals can seamlessly make donations towards COVID relief efforts. Online contributions in the digital donation ecosystem can be made through the following ways:

1. Direct monetary contributions to NGOs or charities on their official websites. Donors have to simply look out for the “donate” button
2. Links available on social media pages of organizations that guide individuals to donation pages
3. Online fundraisers or trustworthy crowdfunding platforms
4. United Payments Interface (UPI) applications 

Individuals have the freedom to choose their preferred donation amount and go through a few simple steps while using digital payment systems.  

The future of digital donations 

Over the past few years, online donations have become increasingly common in gathering collective support amongst active donors and contributing members of society. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has truly mobilized several individuals across the country to take part in collaborative actions to address urgent needs. 
Online Donation to COVID-19 Relief could play a significant role in contributing to India’s recovery from the pandemic and get back on the path towards growth and development. 

What are NGOs in India doing to help the youth of India overcome the challenges they are facing?

Every child in India is deserving of a quality childhood and a bright future. However, the grim circumstances that these children are born into taint their entire childhood experiences, as they are deprived of necessities such as nutrition, education, and healthcare. The youth of our nation are often seen begging on the street, engaged in child labor, or living in despair in slum areas. Their inability to break free from the chains of poverty has created a negative cascading effect, which will have a longstanding impact for generations to come. 

The best NGOs for children in India function to address these challenges at the roots, to ensure no child is deprived of a childhood. These organizations have made a tremendous impact in improving the standard of living for young children, their families, and extended communities. 

food ngos

Addressing malnutrition 

Malnourishment amongst young children has been a rampant issue primarily in the destitute communities of India and continues to be one of the leading causes of child morbidity. Poor nutrition can cause many adverse effects including stunted growth, cognitive impairment, and increased susceptibility to life-threatening diseases.

Food ngos in India across different states have taken great strides to combat the issue of rampant hunger and starvation amongst children. Several organizations provide wholesome, nourishing meals to school-going children as part of the Government of India’s mid-day meal scheme.  

Providing access to quality education

1 out of every 11 children in India begins working instead of attending school. Innumerable young minds are not given the opportunity to receive a quality education and tap into their potential due to the heavy weight of poverty. NGOs working towards developing the education system in our country have recognized the problem of rampant illiteracy at its crux. These social organizations have been continually working to ensure children receive a holistic education that will hold them in good stead for the future. NGOs work towards providing learning material, building the infrastructure of schools, training teachers, and delivering vocational training. 

Building healthcare systems 

Numerous organizations are working towards developing poorly built healthcare systems within destitute areas. Through different initiatives, NGOs function to improve healthcare facilities and services, increase awareness about health issues and provide the best facilities for children and communities. These efforts are imperative to ensure that children receive the correct treatment for health problems faced and to prevent serious escalation of any diseases or illnesses. 

Support these Donate money to NGO to ensure the children of our country are not deprived of necessities anymore. A simple act of kindness can give a child the zeal for life and help drive a real change and development for generations to come!

Questions to ask before donating to a charitable organisation in India

Many of us feel a sense of philanthropy and a need to give back to our society, but a lot of us also do not know where to begin. Countless organisations across the country work on the ground to battle issues such as hunger, illiteracy, poor hygiene and lack of adequate healthcare. Making a monetary contribution, an in-kind donation or volunteering can be your first step towards giving back. However, before parting with your hard earned money or wasting any time or resources, it is imperative to understand the structure and functioning of any organisation. 

Certain questions can be asked to gain a deeper understanding of charitable organisations, before making any type of NGO donation. 

What is the NGOs purpose and mission?

NGO donation

This will bring great clarity in terms of recognising the primary reason behind the establishment of the NGO. Details pertaining to the cause, and ultimate aim of the organisation can be gathered through websites and social media handles. 

Who does the NGO serve?

It is very important to understand the impact created by the organisation in the past and the extent of change brought about by the NGOs efforts. Examine the outreach programs for different communities, regions and age groups to truly understand who the NGO is helping.

Where are donations utilised?

Scrutinize the breakdown of fund utilisation towards different projects, campaigns or initiatives. Credible NGOs are likely to publish their financial statements and annual reports containing detailed financial information on allocation and usage of donated funds. 

Are payment gateways used by the NGO secure?

Donating online can create great benefits to donors and Children NGO with no constraints on geographical location. Seamless contributions can be made by following simple, hassle free procedures. However, it is critical to ensure that the gateways provided on the NGOs website are credible and safe to use to prevent any fraudulent transactions. Ensure that no unnecessary information is extracted to ensure protection of personal data. 

Cautiously donate to a credible and trustworthy NGO after conducting proper due diligence to truly make a lasting difference to innumerable lives! 

How does the mid-day meal scheme help boost education for girl children?

India has shown tremendous growth over the years and is paving way towards great socio-economic development. This progress however is restricted to certain groups, neglect towards the female population is still very much prevalent even today. Gender discrimination remains deeply ingrained in certain societies, where issues such as female feticide and wide-scale oppression still exist. 

A colossal roadblock in alleviating discrimination is the great disparity between male and female education in the country. The literacy rate for women is just 53.7%, and more than 40% of girl children drop out before they reach middle school. In rural India, out of every 100 girls who join school from grade 1 only, 1 successfully enters grade 12. 

Education donation is a good way to help childerns, but this seemingly does not hold true for India’s daughters. Numerous girl children are not considered worthy of education and are forced to focus on household chores, some of them even being married off before the legal age of 18. Malnourished children usually face stunted growth and severe health issues, during which time young girls instantly become the first targets, and are forced to drop out of school.  

One initiative that has undoubtedly proven to be a stepping stone towards increased education and development for young girls is the Mid-day meal scheme launched by the Government of India. Under this scheme, children are provided with a freshly cooked, hot, and nutritious meal at school at no cost. With malnourishment being rampant in marginalized communities, innumerable families from these areas view this one meal as a great incentive to send their children to school. 

The mid day meal scheme has played a pivotal role in enhancing the nutritional status, health, and well-being of young girls. The provision of a free, nourishing meal has also significantly improved school enrolments, attendance, and performance of girls at school, allowing them to thoroughly leverage the gift of quality education.

The gift of education acts as a very powerful foundation for young girls and acts as an agent to breaking free from the restricting chains of gender discrimination and steadfast development for rural communities around the nation.  

Educated, empowered girls can empower the entire nation!