A donor's checklist: questions to ask any NGO before you give

Giving to a cause you care about should feel good — and safe. Whichever organisation you choose, these are the questions worth asking first. We also explain, openly, where Quabit stands on each one.

1. Is the organisation legally registered?

In India, NGOs are usually registered as a trust, a society or a Section 8 company. A registered organisation should be able to share its registration details and its own PAN. Many registered NGOs also sign up on the government's NGO Darpan portal.

Where Quabit stands: Quabit is not yet registered. We will publish registration details on our Transparency page when they are available.

2. Will my donation be eligible for a tax deduction?

Donations are eligible for deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act only if the organisation holds valid 80G approval. Under the current process, eligible organisations report donations to the Income Tax Department and issue donors a certificate in Form 10BE. Ask for the organisation's 80G approval details before you give if a tax deduction matters to you.

Where Quabit stands: Quabit does not hold 80G approval, so donations to Quabit are not eligible for an 80G deduction.

3. Can the organisation accept money from abroad?

Under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA), an organisation needs FCRA registration or prior permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs to accept foreign contributions.

Where Quabit stands: Quabit is not registered under the FCRA and cannot accept foreign contributions.

4. Does it publish reports and accounts?

A trustworthy organisation should be able to tell you what it did with last year's money. Look for annual reports, project reports and — for registered organisations — audited financial statements.

Where Quabit stands: we have not yet completed a full year of operations, so there is no annual report or audit yet. When we publish reports, they will appear on our Transparency page with the reporting period clearly stated.

5. How does it handle my personal data and payments?

Check that online payments go through a recognised payment provider over a secure (HTTPS) connection, and that the organisation explains how it uses your personal information.

Where Quabit stands: online donations are not yet open on this website. Our Privacy Policy explains how we handle the information you share through our forms.

6. How does it protect the people it serves?

Look for a safeguarding or child protection policy, and notice whether the organisation's photos and stories respect people's dignity and privacy.

Where Quabit stands: read our Safeguarding Policy. We will not identify children or publish beneficiaries' stories without informed consent.

Other ways to help, right now

If you would like to support Quabit before we are able to accept donations, the most useful thing you can do is volunteer your time and skills or tell us about a partnership.