Giving to the needy is a concept that is deep-rooted within Indian culture and society. We patronise beggars, religious organisations, charities, NGO?s, disaster relief schemes and even give out ?bakshish? during occasions. From school children knocking at our houses for ten-rupee donations, to organisations asking corporates to donate thousands, we see donations doled out in crores every year. Considering this, it is not in every aspect for which donations are given in large numbers that one sees a marked change in the scenario. Sometimes, there is a noticeable positive change in the situations that require donations, and organisations that have brought about such changes are the ones that should be supported and applauded. Feeling good about donating your money for a good cause is not enough. Following up and watching what purpose that money isactually being used for is just as important if not more.

In a country with over 1.5 million charities and numerous causes, evaluating them all is quite a task. Since no one has undertaken to do so, and there are really no regulatory bodies that evaluate charity organisations and NGOs, at the current juncture one can only urge individuals and companies to take greater interest in the organisations to which they donate. Key areas like finance, cost of financing, costs incurred, actual money spent, and progress in the cause they fight for should be very well looked into and understood. Supporting a charity is like making an investment and should hence be treated in the same way. In India, most people donate for reasons like giving back to society, helping the needy, goodwill, feel good factors, and even to cleanse themselves of sins. We do so blindly, as the thought of a charity worker having any other motive than the one they claim is hard to believe. However, the fact remains that religious organisations to NGOs, all are run by humans and hence governed by both good and bad. Filling ones pocket with easy money is often a temptation that few can resist. So, instead of blindly donating and facilitating waste and fraud, why not get involved at least to the extent of the donation you give. One should treat this as a responsibility that comes with the donations. For where there?s money involved, a careless donation is as much a crime as any other wastage.

Tips, comparisons, do?s and don?ts

Charities like equities, mutual funds, and other investments are all divided into many sectors. Hence, comparing different organisations randomly is rather futile and baseless. Charity organisations fighting for the same cause are the only basis of comparison. Thus, one can compare two environmental charities. However, comparing a food bank to a museum is rather absurd, as even though both might run on donations, the cost types involved are very different and are based on each ones requirement. Thus, while a food bank might be able to spend Rs 90 out of 100 for the cause, a museum might barely save Rs 70 out of 100 to spend towards new arts, owing to the higher security, infrastructure, and maintenance costs.

Therefore, the first step towards figuring out how to donate, is selecting the cause or causes which you want to support. Some of the causes that one can choose are environmental, animal welfare, orphanages, old age homes, women and girl child protection, blind, deaf and dumb organisations, spastic kids, arts promotion, food providing agencies, village adoptions, street kids welfare, and education groups. These are not the only causes which one can support and one should ideally choose only those causes that are dear to ones heart and in which one is generally interested.

Some questions that one should ask an organisation you are planning to donate to, should be, ?What are this group?s goals for the year??, ?How will it reach them??, and ?What?s the measure of progress?? A good organisation would welcome these questions, answer you clearly, and hope your involvement betters their current progress. A not so good one would continue giving a sales pitch. To break it down, the basic pointers that one must remember while donating are:

? Know your charity

? Budget for giving

? Ask for annual reports, brochures or other useful material

? Find out where your money goes

? Do not respond to pressure

? Maintain records of your donations

? Tax exempt and tax deductions are different

? Do not be misled by a charities familiar name

? Do not be enticed by emotional appeals

? If you satisfied with the charity, do donate generously

? Volunteer

Smarten up

Giving beggars money is not a form of donation. Contrary to what one believes, hears, and claims; begging is the easiest form of coning people of their money by playing on their emotions and appealling to ones sympathies. It isn?t advisable to allocate a lot of money to religious organisations and big charity houses either, as one has no way of knowing for what the money donated is actually being used. Start up organisations, i.e. organisations that are only 2 to 3 years old, should not be compared and judged in terms of cost effectiveness ratios, as they will have start-up costs that are still being written off during that time frame. Helping a smaller charity however is often better, as one can be directly involved with the working, functioning, and progress of the group. You don?t have to devote a lot of time but keeping track is far easier and the few times that you do choose to get your hands dirty, the joy received on seeing the task completed, a grateful strangers smile and thanks, will warm your heart and that?s a feeling unmatched.

Money is hard earned and its value is ever so important. Thus, when we choose to give away this precious commodity, do make sure the causes are equally close to you. Only then will keeping track of what your investment is doing not be work, but an extension to make sure your hard-earned money is always achieving what you want it to. Unfortunately, a charity is something that?s personal and should be close to ones heart. It makes little sense to be told which charity houses to donate to or which areas of society need attention. However, involvement and charity go hand in hand, else the money you donated is as useful as the money you blew up with the crackers you lit last diwali or at a wedding. One way of getting involved directly without joining a charity is to join a rotary or lions club. These organisations pool in money collected via membership fees and donations, which are then used for various causes taken up by them. The club members are usually professionals from all fields and businessmen. Fringe benefits of these organisations are contact building, recognition, socialising, and respectability. However, like most organisations, these too more often than not, end up wasting more money on unimportant things rather then focussing totally on the job at hand. Nonetheless, it?s a good foray and beginning towards charity.