Want to give back this Diwali? Here's how to find causes that matter

It's the season of giving, so why not consider supporting those less fortunate than you?

Giving Diwali gifts to your house-help, driver and office staff is often routine. But for many people, the desire to give extends beyond festive gifts to supporting meaningful causes.

“It just feels nice to share,” said Jyoti Khare-Pandey, a 51-year-old Mumbai resident who grew up watching her mother give to others and now tries to inculcate the same spirit in her daughters.

If you decide to donate, however, knowing where to start can be daunting. More than 6 lakh non-profit organisations are registered on the government's Darpan portal, with lakhs more operating outside it. Some people hesitate to give because they are unsure whether an organisation will use their money as intended.

“It's an overblown fear,” said Sumit Tayal, chief executive of Give, an online donation platform and repository of nonprofits. It was founded by the team that previously ran online donation aggregator GiveIndia.org, which shut down after covid. “There are thousands of highly credible non-profits doing amazing work in India,” he said.

Mint spoke to experts on how to identify genuine causes and organisations that can help you make a difference.

“The first thing you have to do is choose a cause,” said Shitij Malhotra, founder of toy company CocoMoco Kids, who used to run a non-profit until 2020.

Once you have identified a cause you want to support, there are several ways to find the right organisation. One of the easiest is to look for a project close to home.

Start nearby

Khare-Pandey wanted to do something for children, so she looked for organisations in her neighbourhood. She found Urban Community Development Centre in Bandra, which works with underprivileged children. Every year, on her children's birthdays, she takes them to the centre to make a donation. She also supports Dilkhush Special School in Juhu, which works with specially abled children.

“You see the children happy, so you know the money is put to good cause,” said Khare-Pandey.

She also supports healthcare causes, such as Shanti Avedna Sadan, a hospice in Bandra for terminally ill people. “You can see it right in front of you, how they help the people, how the place is maintained,” said Khare-Pandey.

Another option is to look for causes in your hometown, said Malhotra. You can also ask friends and family for recommendations of organisations they have supported or seen doing good work.

In addition, there are online directories of nonprofits, likeGuidestar India andGive Discover, a brand of Give, which allow you to look up nonprofits by causes and geographies. These websites do some basic verification of the nonprofit, such as checking that it’s registered with the government.

They also offer more advanced certifications based on detailed verification and due diligence.

Give, for instance, offers bronze, silver and gold certifications. It does not charge non-profits for these certifications but asks them to provide much more detailed information, said Tayal.

Only certified non-profits can raise money on the Give.do donation platform, he said.

Tayal said the platform also monitors how money is used after it is raised through fundraising campaigns on its website.

Check before giving

There are other crowdfunding websites, such as Milaap and Ketto, where individuals in need can raise money. These campaigns are typically for healthcare expenses and are based on specific needs.

Such platforms carry out initial checks on people seeking to raise funds, including collecting medical reports of the person who needs treatment. In some cases, they also transfer the money directly to the hospital. However, monitoring how funds are used can be harder when donations go to individuals.

Non-profit organisations, including small and mid-sized ones seeking corporate donations, would typically publish annual reports that provide an account of their work. Malhotra also places importance on the background and educational qualifications of an organisation's founders.

Another channel for giving could be via your company, which may have verified nonprofits that it backs, and which saves you the hassle of research.

Around festivals such as Diwali, some companies organise fundraisers with the help of Give.do. “We will do the monitoring to make sure that money that employees gave was used the right way,” said Tayal.

Companies also offer payroll giving, which is a longer-term commitment, in which a certain percentage of the money is deducted directly from your salary. It’s painless, and “every month you get a report that your money was spent thus,” said Tayal.

Give beyond cash

Money is not the only way to contribute. Goonj, a Delhi-based non-profit, accepts donations of old clothes and other materials, while DonateKart allows verified charities to run campaigns seeking essential products, including food and clothing. Non-profits may also directly ask for specific materials they need.

Earlier this year, Khare-Pandey wanted to donate for Assam floods, and found a nonprofit through her friends. They asked for sanitary care products. “They told us, we’re going to shop, you pay directly to the company,” said Khare-Pandey.

If you are unable to contribute financially, or want to do more alongside a donation, you can also volunteer your time.

Many non-profits seek volunteers to support their projects. If you do not have a specific organisation in mind, platforms such as Bhumi list volunteering opportunities for young people across different locations.

Financial planning & tax benefits

If you want to go beyond one-off donations, it helps to budget for charitable giving.

“Always make sure there is a pre-determined cash flow,” said KishorKumar Balpalli, founder of myMoneySage, a Sebi-registered investment advisor in Bengaluru. He typically works with wealthy individuals who earn an average of ₹1 crore a year.

“Always make sure there is a pre-determined cash flow,” said KishorKumar Balpalli, founder of myMoneySage, the trade name of Shreem Datatech Solutions Pvt which is a Sebi-registered investment advisor in Bengaluru. He typically works with wealthy individuals who earn an average of ₹1 crore a year.

Balpalli's clients typically support causes related to education, healthcare and hunger. Many prefer to donate on specific occasions, such as birth or death anniversaries in the family, and set aside money for those dates.

“We keep it in an arbitrage fund or liquid fund, and then whenever they require, they can take it from there,” said Balpalli.

Charitable giving can also offer tax benefits, but these depend on the applicable tax regime and the eligibility of the donation.

For many charities and non-profits registered under Section 80G of the old tax law or Section 133 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, donors can claim a deduction of 50% of the amount donated from their taxable income, subject to the applicable conditions.

While many donors do not prioritize the tax benefit, Malhotra suggests using it to make the contribution go further.

“If you're getting ₹15,000 back on ₹1 lakh, donate it again, if you don't want it,” he said.

There is no shortage of causes and organisations that could use your support. Even non-profits that receive funding from large companies through corporate social responsibility programmes may face conditions and restrictions on how that money can be used.

“Direct funds give the nonprofit more power to take independent decisions,” said Malhotra.

Experts suggest that even a small donation of a few hundred rupees can be valuable. Above all, the important thing is to begin.

“You can keep thinking forever, or you can actually get started,” said Tayal. “Take the first step.”