How to choose an NGO to donate to in India

India has lakhs of registered non-profits. Most do honest work. A few do not. And some do good work but cannot show it. Before you give, a few simple checks tell you a lot. None of them takes more than a few minutes.

1. Is it registered, and can you see the registration?

A genuine NGO is registered as a trust, a society or a section 8 company, and is listed on NGO Darpan, the government's portal for non-profits. Ask for the registration details, or look for them on the NGO's website. If they are hard to find, ask why.

2. Is your donation eligible for a tax deduction?

If you pay tax in India, check that the NGO holds a current 80G approval. The certificate shows a validity period. Since 1 April 2026, donors claim the deduction under Section 133 of the Income-tax Act, 2025 (earlier Section 80G), and approvals granted under the old Act continue. How much you can claim depends on your own tax situation, so check with your CA.

3. Can it take money from abroad legally?

If you hold a foreign passport, including an OCI card, the NGO needs an FCRA registration to receive your donation, into its designated FCRA account. Without it, it cannot accept foreign contributions at all. If you are an Indian citizen living abroad (NRI) giving from your own savings, your gift is not a foreign contribution, and you can give the way donors in India do.

4. Does it publish audited accounts?

Look for audited financial statements, year after year, on the website or on request. A trustworthy NGO tells you how much it spends on administration and how much on its work.

5. Has anyone outside checked it?

Companies that fund NGOs through CSR usually do a due diligence first. Independent bodies also review NGOs: for example, CAF's Global Charity Database, Give's certification, and GuideStar India. An NGO that has been checked by others will usually tell you so.

6. Does it tell you exactly what your money does?

"Help girls" is a hope. "₹1,100 covers one girl's menstrual protection, education and support for a year" is a promise you can hold someone to. Look for clear costs, and for how the NGO knows the work happened.

7. Can you reach a real person?

A phone number, an email address that someone answers, an office address. Try it before you give.

How Pinkishe answers these checks

Pinkishe Foundation is a non-profit working on menstrual health since 2017. We work in schools and communities across India, so every girl and woman can manage her period with dignity. Here is how we answer each check, with proof on our Governance page:

• Registered public charitable trust since 2017; on NGO Darpan; registered under 12AB and 80G; CSR-1 registered; FCRA registered for donations from abroad.
• Our accounts have been audited every year since 2017. In FY 2025-26, administration was 4.28 per cent of our expenses.
• 50+ due diligences by corporate and institutional partners. CAF reviews our governance and finances every two years. Give reviews our projects and organisation every two years, for its Give Gold certification.
• ₹0 ever paid to our trustees.
• Every session our educators run is counted the same day.
• Rated five stars on Google by over 2,400 people.

See every document on our Governance and trust page.

If you would like to give to Pinkishe

Individual donors from all over India keep PadBank, our community work, going: free sanitary pads, menstrual health classes, and a menstrual helpline that answers at any hour.

₹1,100 covers one girl's menstrual protection, education and support for a year. You can give once, or every month. Eligible for tax deduction under Section 133 of the Income-tax Act, 2025 (earlier Section 80G).

Donate from India →

Living outside India? $25 keeps two girls in school for a whole year.

Donate from abroad →

Indian citizen living abroad (NRI)? Please give on our India page.

Questions people ask

Is a donation to an NGO tax deductible in India?

Donations to an NGO with a valid 80G approval are eligible for tax deduction under Section 133 of the Income-tax Act, 2025 (earlier Section 80G). The amount you can claim depends on the NGO's approval and your own tax situation. Your CA can confirm it.

How do I check if an NGO is genuine?

Check its registration on NGO Darpan, ask for its 80G and 12AB certificates, read its audited accounts, and look for outside reviews such as CAF's validation or Give's certification.

Can I donate to an Indian NGO from abroad?

Yes. If you hold a foreign passport, including an OCI card, the NGO must hold an FCRA registration. Pinkishe does, and you can give through pinkishe.org/donate-international. If you are an Indian citizen living abroad (NRI) giving from your own savings, please give on our India page.