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Anita Bora
It is estimated that about Rs 5000 million was donated after the Gujarat earthquake by local Indians alone; proof that people could dig deep to provide relief. Helping numerous funds facilitate the process was another channel - the Web.
"For the first time, the Internet overtook radio and television to reach people," says Mathew Cherian, Director of the UK based Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India, adding that online initiatives during the disaster were of key importance.
Volunteers from Hughes Software Systems and Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India worked together to create Disaster Relief and You which listed the needs of various NGOs in Kutch, and received a million hits.
K N Venkat, of the GIVE Foundation (part of ICICI Communities initiative) is of the opinion that charities and NGOs are slowly, but gradually beginning to explore the potential of the Net. While realising its importance in information dissemination, networking and community building, he admits they are a long way from exploiting the medium fully.
Howard Lake, Publisher of UK Fundraising, and author of the book, 'Direct Connections Guide to Fundraising to the Internet' agrees. "There is a long history of innovative, practical and low-cost use of the Internet by some charities." In the UK, Comic Relief raised 1.75 million pounds in online donations during a six-hour telethon in 2001. Eight per cent of the total came via the Internet.
Yet, in the UK too, says Lake, there are many who remain surprisingly unaware of these benefits: "Charities should not ignore it as it is a channel that a significant number of people find convenient." In most cases, the conservative attitude of these organisations arises due to a combination of IT ignorance, misunderstanding of benefits offered, and a lack of government support.
A recent research report 'Virtual Promise' gives evidence about how charities have not fully grasped the Net's benefits. Tools such as email are not sufficiently utlised either.
Venkat agrees that the Internet is arguably the easiest way to raise funds. "Our site raised a fairly large amount of money online during the recent Gujarat earthquake, purely because we were able to provide regular updates. What a donor wants in exchange for money is exactly that: 'information' on how it was or will be used." He also adds that though online fund raising is feasible in India, it will take time due to limitations that most e-commerce transactions face.
The next step, for ICICI Communities and GIVE Foundation, is to move beyond monetary issues, to allow voluntary donations of time and skill. Mathew Cherian makes a valid point when he says that, often, it "isn't the lack of will but the lack of time that prevents you from giving as generously and as often as you would like." It is only after the earthquake, he says, that there has been a huge 'online coming together' of individuals and communities raising resources faster, and in great quantities.
Venkat maintains that people are more comfortable donating online than buying; a surprising revelation, considering suspicions about transactions in cyberspace. The GIVE Foundation lists organisations and causes, and claims 100 per cent secure payments. But how popular are these methods? Says Venkat: "Surprisingly, two 'hot' payment options we offer -- credit card and Infinity Netbanking -- are the most popular, accounting for more than 70 per cent of our donations."
The key issue, he adds, is how transparent NGOs are willing to be. "The more open an NGO, the more funds it may attract." One example is Deepalaya.org, a Delhi based NGO that actually lets you see potential sponsorship candidates for its 'educate-a-child' scheme. The ICICIcommunities.org site allows donors to choose a cause, NGO and even a purpose.
In the UK, the concept of a 'Charity Card' -- a debit card of sorts -- has made it easier for people to donate, and GIVE plans to introduce it within a couple of years. Cherian says that, with the advent of click-and-donate sites, you can actually donate without writing a cheque.
Lake feels that the Net has introduced a quirky, novel ways of generating income: "The click-to-give-for-free model is a good example of a fundraising activity that can exist only on the Internet." However, he goes on to say that, in its basic format, "anything that encourages donors to think they can give at no cost to themselves is an empty approach. Fundraisers need to communicate with donors."
So does this mean that people will take the easy out? "No," he rounds off, "I don't think these sites will reduce giving at all. Despite their occasional successes and high profile, they account for only a tiny percentage of online fundraising activity."
All said and done, are you ready to make giving a habit? It is the one initiative you alone can take.
Search for more sites on Non Government Organisations (NGO) in Rediff Search
Additional Resources
-- ProPoor - NGO Portal across South Asia
-- InDev - Development Information on India
-- Wildlife Trust of India
-- Indian NGOs - Resource Centre
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