These days I have found that we get numerous calls from unknown agencies asking to donate money for different causes.-someone child needing surgery, Old Age Home, School for Blind Children, Orphanages, etc..
While I do welcome these and would like to help as much as possible, at the same time I don’t want my money going into the pockets of middlemen and fraudulent agencies.
Here are two incidents that made me write this article:
About a week before Diwali I got couple of calls from one such organization , they wanted me to donate money for the Old Age Home being run by them.
I asked them all the details about the Old Age Home, which they promptly did, and the calls kept coming from the organization for an early donation before Diwali as they wanted to arrange blankets and warm clothes for the old people. I was all set to make a donation for the Old Age Home when I thought of googling the agency.
I found multiple posts where people got swindled. I am not sure how much truth there is to it, nevertheless thought of sharing this so that others be wary and do due diligence before making donations to such organizations.
Another case is of an organization in Nangloi, collecting money for donations for an Orphanage. About a few months back, their representative rang my door bell and requested me for a donation on behalf of Anand Bal Seva Ashram. This was the name on the laminated handout he showed me, along with their Receipt book. A Certificate of Registration of the organization he showed me was a crumpled piece of paper which looked more like a random printout than any official document. He was not able to answer my detailed questions about the Orphanage. He left immediately without having the glass of water that I had offered him.
If you are considering donating to a charity, here are some tips to keep in mind: • Be wary of charitable organizations or crowd funding campaigns that are only recently launched in response to the events like the Wayanad landslide and other disasters. • Ask questions—a legitimate charity should be able to provide you with their name, address, telephone number, mission, how the donation will be used, and the percentage of your donation that will go to the charity. • Be especially vigilant before giving donations through peer-to-peer or social networking websites, as it is difficult to verify that your donation will be used properly. This includes texts or messages you might receive online. • Never donate using cash or use Paytm (or donate to an organization that offers to send a courier to your location to pick up cash). Use a crossed cheque whenever possible. • Remember that an organization is not authentic just because it uses words like “Seva”, “Foundation”, “Society” or has reputable looking seals or logos.
