Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) embodies a voluntary framework within which businesses uphold their social responsibility to internal and external stakeholders as well as the broader community.

Through the adoption of CSR practices, often referred to as corporate citizenship, organizations acknowledge their influence on various facets of society, encompassing economic, social, and environmental realms. Embracing CSR entails conducting business operations in a manner that fosters societal and environmental well-being rather than detracting from it.

Group of young friends stacking hands

At Akshaya Chaitanya, we’ve partnered with numerous corporations and are looking forward to more such support that help us achieve our only dream which will one day be a reality, that is to provide better healthcare and education for the underprivileged, by eradicating hunger on the streets of Mumbai.

Selecting the Right NGO Partner for CSR Activities

It is crucial to select the right NGO partner for your CSR initiatives. The right selection ensures maximum impact on the life of the beneficiaries, which is the ultimate goal. If these CSR goals of the organization are well-aligned with the work of the NGO, then the available resources will be utilized judiciously, and beneficiaries will receive the most effective support.

Key points to consider before selecting an NGO for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities

We are driven by the force of helping the people who need it the most and we whole-heartedly respect & support other NGOs who are equally ambitious.

The below key points will help guide you select the best practices while selecting an NGO to support the cause that you are most driven for.

1. Credible Track Record: Evaluate the credibility of the NGO thoroughly. Review the financial statements, annual reports and examine the available case studies for measurable outcomes. You can also contact the previous CSR partners and check their collaboration experience.
   
   At Akshaya Chaitanya we believe in a transparent track record and we have all the certifications required to make CSR activities a smooth and heart-felt experience.

Here are a few testimonials from our corporate partners, who have our immense gratitude for the support they have shown in helping us grow:

1. Leadership Profile: The Leadership driving the full-force of the NGO is very important to consider while choosing the right NGO to partner with for the CSR(Corporate Social Responsibilities) activities, it makes the whole experience seamless, has better strategic accountability towards the CSR funds, and this makes a huge difference while building a trust factor with the corporates.
2. Connect with the Issue: Funneling down on a cause that resonates with the goals & values of an organization is the most crucial part while selecting an NGO. Ultimately it’s about the larger impact you leave on a society & the framework you set for the future through your CSR endeavors. Akshaya Chaitanya’s mission is a very serious one, because we truly believe that serving the underprivileged and giving them the energy to carry out the emotional and physical challenges that they face everyday on so many levels of life, is the only way to help them get better education and healthcare.
   
   Any organization feeling the same sentiments about this issue can always reach out to us on:
3. Measurable Impact: Partner with an NGO that is capable of establishing measurable goals before the project begins. Ask the partner NGO to provide clear data for analyzing the impact of the collaboration. This will help in tracking the progress of the project effectively.
   
   This is a very important factor while choosing your NGO partner since CSR fund are very crucial for ̌ the corporate and the NGO, both. So, both parties have to be accountable for it.
   NGOs to optimize the impact while organizations to ensure that what they have chosen will have the highest impact on the society in the most positive way.
   
   For example, Akshaya Chaitanya has 3 programs, and below are the Impact numbers that we have achieved since FY 2021 till FY 2024:
   
   Program 1: SWASTHYA AHARA
   i) 6,40,335 vulnerable patients supported across 29 hospitals & cancer-care centers in Mumbai.
   
   ii) 76,21,454 meals to beneficiaries helped save INR 76 Cr. towards treatment expenses.
   
   
   Program 2: BAL SHIKSHA AHARA
   i) Zero classroom hunger for 8050 children across 200 municipal schools leading to better health and improved learning outcomes.
   
   ii) 78,09,134 breakfast & lunch meals improved classroom attendance by up to 22% each year.

Transparency in CSR Partnership:

Compliance and reporting are the two main pillars for creating transparency in the Corporate-NGO partnership. It is important to prioritize these two aspects to ensure that every stakeholder can access accurate information and assess the impact.

Key aspects to consider for building trust:

1. Valid Certifications: Partner with an NGO that holds valid certificates:

i) 80G of the Income Tax Act – It provides tax exemption for donors when they donate to specific charitable organizations.

ii) 12A of the Income Tax Act – It exempts the NGO from paying income tax on its income.

iii) Form CSR-1 – This is a form for registering NGOs for receiving CSR funds from the corporates and undertaking CSR activities.

iv) Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) – The objective of this act is to regulate the acceptance and usage of foreign donations.

1. Monthly Data-driven Reports: It is essential to have monthly data on every aspect of the project, like the number of beneficiaries served, activities undertaken, impact and analysis on the desired and actual outcome.
   
2. Audit: Check the annual audits of the NGO’s financial statements to ensure transparency. Also, ask for 3rd party certification to verify the project completion and impact. As this party report is free of any conflict of interest, it will allow an unbiased verification.
   
3. Strong Partnership History: Consider partnering with an NGO that has a long history of strong partnerships with corporate clients. This will reduce onboarding time, risk and increase confidence in the collaboration.

Here are some heart-warming impact stories, a testimony of change that the CSR partnerships have helped us achieve.

Real Stories of Corporate Social Responsibility

Employee Volunteering by Panasonic

An Employee Volunteering Initiative by Panasonic

Employee Volunteering by TELUS

Corporate Social Responsibility by Savex Technologies

If your company’s corporate social activities are aimed at changing the education & healthcare landscape in the city of dreams & make it truly progressive, join us in doing so by eradicating hunger from the streets of Mumbai, Akshaya Chaitanya stands out as an ideal partner in this vision.

We have a track record of effectively delivering meals to the underprivileged people and our trusted CSR partners like Reliance Foundation, TLC Legal, Carestream, Jupiter Dyechem, Orbit Exports Ltd, Gyanprakash Foundation and many more have shown immense support to our commitment and helped us in distributing meals to schools, hospitals and slums through various ways.

We have all the required certificates to receive donations from corporations and foreign organizations, and our financial statements are testaments of our transparency. By choosing to partner with a trusted NGO like Akshaya Chaitanya, you can bring a positive change in the lives of people in need.

Together, let’s open doors of equal opportunities for every underprivileged amongst us. Check our Real Impact Stories: https://akshayachaitanya.org/beneficiary-stories

To join hands in our cause, please reach out to us, here:https://akshayachaitanya.org/donate/corporate-social-responsibilty-for-organisation or Call us on +918928991161