The official GuideStar India blog

Welcome, NGOs and all those interested in NGOs in India!

If you are running an NGO or working for one, you will find opportunities and resources for your organisation.

If you or your organisation want to direct your time, money, products or services to NGOs that can can make the most effective and efficient use of your donations or grants, you will find this blog and http://www.guidestarindia.org/ useful to announce your offer to NGOs.

You will also get to read about statistics and issues concerning transparency & accountability of the Indian voluntary sector.

Friday, September 25, 2009

NGOs voice their IT Challenges at ConnectIT Day


90 NGO representatives from different parts of Maharashtra attended NASSCOM Foundation’s ConnectIT Day on Sep 16 in Mumbai. It was great to see many participants from outisde Mumbai.

Dhaval Udani, GiveIndia’s CIO, Ms Annabel Mehta Treasurer of Apnalaya and Ms Mrinalini Kher, Director, KSWA were among the NGO panellists. The speakers and NGO leaders present in the auditorium argued if and how IT could really address challenges faced by NGOs. While Mr Jerry Rao, Chairman, NASSCOM Foundation wore multiple hats (IT industry leader/NGO leader/Philanthropist) as he moderated the discussions, Mr Sunil Soni, Principal Secretary, Planning Dept., Govt of Maharashtra, urged NGOs to visit government websites and raise questions or at least provide some feedback. Some NGO leaders wondered whether computerisation & IT training would make programme staff at NGOs spend more time in the office than be amongst the community! Speakers made NGOs aware of various resources available to them: NASSCOM Foundation’s (
www.nasscomfoundation.org) BiG Tech and BiG Bridge programmes, TCS’ Adult Literacy programmes, use of free social media, etc. Rufina Fernandes, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation urged NGOs to register with NASSCOM Foundation to avail of its several programmes for hardware & software support as well as IT skilled volunteers.

NASSCOM Foundation will be organising 4-day hands-on IT training workshops for NGOs in Pune, Nagpur & Sangli between Nov 2009 & Jan 2010. Similar workshops are also being planned for Rajasthan and Orissa. Participation is free. If interested, please write to GuideStar India, the Outreach Partner for these workshops at
info@guidestarindia.org.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Thank you, FirstSource!

A very big thank you to the FirstSource whose team made sure that every single NGO on our invite list for the ConnectIT Day of NASSCOM Foundation was called. We have had a steady flow of registration forms and phone calls. Registrations are closing end of today.

Thank you you Madhu, Vinay & team, Subramonian and Lakshmi. We immensely value your support.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Registration on for NASSCOM Foundation's ConnectIT Day

NGOs in Maharashtra:
GuideStar India (www.guidestarindia.org) is pleased to invite you to “ConnectIT Day”, a curtain raiser for a series of capacity building workshops in IT titled ‘ConnectIT workshops’ to be conducted by NASSCOM Foundation (www.nasscomfoundation.org). The objective of the programme is to provide effective computer technology and Internet training to assist NGOs and Government officers accomplish their development objectives through effective use of IT in their operations.

‘ConnectIT Day’, is on Sep 16, 2009 at Y B Cavan Centre, Rangswar Auditorium, Mumbai, from 2.00pm-5.30pm.

The participation is FREE but requires you to register in advance (due to limited seats). You need to send the participation form and complete an IT Need Assessment Form. Click here for the communication from NASSCOM Foundation. Participants will be confirmed by NASSCOM Foundation based on need assessment from the questionnaire you fill and on first come first served basis.

GuideStar India is the Outreach Partner for the ConnectIT Day and ConnectIT workshops. If you have any questions regarding participation, feel free to write to us at info@guidestarindia.org.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

77 NGOs complete registration for the Joy of Giving Week

We are happy to announce the list of NGOs that completed the requirements for regsitration for the Joy of Giving Week (JGW). GuideStar India is managing regsitration of NGOs for this massive national event hosted by GiveIndia.

As NGOs already listed with GiveIndia are automatically registered for JGW, they did not have to go through this process with GuideStar India.

Applications are pouring in. Our office is full of papers and our team is stretching itself to process applications on the same day they are received.

NGOs registered for the Joy of Giving Week:
Aangan Trust (Mumbai)
Able Disabled All People Together (ADAPT) - formerly The Spastics Society of India
Acumen Trust
All India Movement For Seva
Arokiya Charity
Arunodhaya Centre for Street & Working Children
ARUWE
Aseema Charitable Trust
Ashoka Innovators for the Public (India)
Association for Non-Traditional Employment for Women
Association for Rural Community Development
Aural Education for the Hearing Impaired
Bharti Foundation
CHILD
Children Toy Foundation
Community Development Organization Trust
Credibility Alliance
Cross Blood Foundation
CRY - Child Rights and You
Dhanvantari Trust
FAME India (Foundation for Action Motivation & Empowerment)
Foundation for Excellence India Trust
Girivanavasi Educational Trust
Habitat for Humanity India Trust
HelpAge India
Hyderabad Council of Human Welfare
India Literacy Project
Iniya Udaiyam Charitable Trust
International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC)
Isha Foundation
JAMGHAT (A Group of Street Children)
Janpath
Karna Prayag Trust
Khairabad Eye Hospital
LIGHT
Love and Care India Trust
Madras Dyslexia Association
Mahan Trust
Malvi Educational & Charitable Trust
Mary Anne Charity Trust
Masoom
MAYA (Movement for Alternatives And Youth Awareness)
Mumbai Mobile Creches
Nagarika Seva Trust
Narmada Kidney Foundation
Nasiha Education & Welfare Trust
Population Services International
Prajna Counselling Centre
PRAYAS
Prerana
Priyadarshini Seva Mandali
Rural Amelioration Service Society
Sadguru Sri Gnanananda Seva Trust
Sankara Eye Hospital
Save The Children India
Service and Research Foundation of Asia on Family and Culture
SHARE - Society to Heal Aid Restore, Educate
Shraddha Charitable Trust
Skillshare International (India) Trust
SNEHA (Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action)
Social Action for Manpower Creation
Society for Higher education of Women in India (SPJ Sadhana School)
Society for Poor People Development
Society Moved to Instill Love with Empathy
Spastics Society of Karnataka
Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Medical Trust
Sri Shakthi Association
Sri Shiridi Sai Seva Trust
Svechha Foundation
The Akshaya Patra Foundation
The Bandra Holy Family Hospital Society
The Indian Cancer Society
Tulir Charitable Trust (For Prevention & Healing of Child Sexual Abuse)
Udhavum Ullangal Public Charitable Trust
VIDYA Integrated Development for Youth and Adults
Vidya Sagar
Visamo Kids Foundation