Credibility Framework
Samhita and Global India Fund have created a robust credibility framework for all social organizations profiled on the portal. The credibility framework requires organizations to share multiple components of essential information with all other members of the portal. We will verify critical information such as legal and tax registrations, bank details and certifications for each listed organization. We also verify that the organization has not been blacklisted by agencies such as CAPART. In addition, all social organizations that raise donations through the portal are required to inform donors about their progress, impact and describe how donations are being used.
Our credibility framework was developed with inputs from donors, social organizations, professionals in various non-profit domains, legal experts, foundations, and other funding and support agencies.
| Credibility Assessment Framework | ||
| Definition | Verification Methods | |
| Mission and outreach | Organization’s vision and work in the social sector | Information on vision, mission, strategy, services, beneficiaries/target
population, area of focus, regions of operation and domain expertise
is shared by the organization on the portal In addition, project reports, annual reports, multimedia evidence, links to websites, and illustrations of work through pictures, videos and documents are also shared |
| Circle of trust and credibility by association | Circle of trust refers to the supporters of an organization
who may be volunteers, donors, foundations, partners or beneficiaries. Credibility by association refers to the organization’s affiliation with credible agencies who support or work in the social sector |
Before an organization’s profile is published, five supporters/referees
are required to rate the organization on it’s activities and projects,
efficiency, effectiveness, quality of management team and social
impact measurement. After an organization’s profile is published, other supporters as well as independent individuals and agencies that are familiar with the organization’s work are requested to rate the organization and provide testimonials. Random checks are conducted on the referees to ensure that the references have come from authentic sources. There is a feedback system that allows people to report fraud. Organizations that are found to have committed fraud are blacklisted and barred from using the portal. Awards and honors received by the organization, its founders and members of the management team are also featured. Certificates by accreditation agencies such as Credibility Alliance and due-diligence reports by foundations, donor agencies and other intermediaries are shared on the portal |
| Legal compliance | Only public charities and non-profit organizations are eligible
for local and/or international donations. Compliance also includes availability of valid documents that permit the organization to raise donations from Indian and/or international donors |
Submission of legal documents including:
Note: Veracity of legal documents is checked by Samhita |
| Organizations that have been blacklisted by CAPART are not allowed to register on the portal | Samhita checks the list of non-profits blacklisted or put under funding restrictions by CAPART (a nodal agency for catalyzing and coordinating the emerging partnership between voluntary organizations and the Government for sustainable development of rural areas) to ensure that none of the organizations on the portal are non-compliant or fraudulent | |
| Compliance with U.S. policies for international philanthropy and anti-terror clause | GIF checks the names of persons leading the organizations against the U.S. Treasury Department list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” | |
| Governance and management | Information on management team, board members, and staff (part time, full time and volunteers) | |
| Financial management | Audited financial statements, project plans and budgets | |
| Programmatic efforts and impact | Detailed project descriptions and logic models Monthly and/or quarterly updates and project reports Monitoring and evaluation studies and reports |
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| Reporting and accountability | Regular reports on progress, use of funds including stories
of beneficiaries, impact etc. Donors’ feedback ratings on the reports Donor management tools and analytics information will be provided to social organizations to help them understand stakeholder expectations, improve reporting and overall communication |
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Note: Please note that in the case of social enterprises, documents and registrations pertaining to non-profit status are not applicable. They are required to provide information on basic legal and tax registrations and are subject to the same verification processes as NGOs. Social enterprises are not permitted to raise donations on the portal.
