Donors FAQ
Q1. What can I donate?
A1. We accept checks ONLY.
Q2. Can I donate clothes, blankets etc.?
A2. Sorry. We cannot send these easily.
Please see A1 above.
Q3. Can I donate stocks?
A3. Sorry. Not at this time. We are working on setting this up.
Q4. Can I donate via credit-card or cash?
A4. Sorry. Not possible now. We only accept checks.
Please see A1 above.
Q5. Whom should I make the check out to?
A5. Please make the check out to VIDE.
In the memo section, please mention your e-mail id.
Q6. Are my donations tax-deductible?
A6. Yes, they are. Your donations are 100% tax-deductible.
Q7. Would I get receipts?
A7. Yes. Receipts would be issued to you within a few weeks after we realize your check.
Q8. What is the minimum amount?
A8. None at this moment. But, we prefer to get at least $25 per check.
Q9. What is the maximum amount?
A9. :-)
Q10. Whom should I give my check to?
A10. VIDE has volunteers in your company. Please contact them or you can mail to:
VIDE, P.O. Box 640271, San Jose, CA 95164-0271
Q11. Who would give me the receipts?
A11. The VIDE volunteer from your company.
Q12. How can I find the status of my donations?
A12. We would post a follow-up article on our web site vide
Q13. What would the money be used for?
A13. Relief and Rehabilitation. VIDE is coordinating with other NGOs who are currently
working
in the affected areas to provide food, shelter, clothing and medicines.
VIDE is also focusing on projects that would help in long-term re-habilitation of the
victims.
Q14. Will every dollar that we contribute benefit the quake
victims in India (i.e. nothing is retained in the US to pay for VIDE's overhead)?
A14. Nothing is retained in US. 100% goes to Earthquake victims if money is for earthquake
victims. Majority of operational costs for VIDE comes from Volunteers. Time-to-time others
chip in to cover any incidental costs as donation such as buying banners, putting up booth
in festivals. We only reimbursed only $100 for expenses last year. Our costs are little to
zero.
Q15. What type of assurances can VIDE give?
A15. We'll put up money donation from your organizations and where that money went to. We
collect receipts and expense reports from NGOs (Non-governmental Organizations similar to
NPO in US) in India. For us to submit them to IRS.
Q17. Is VIDE buying food, medical supplies & clothing in the
US and shipping them to India?
A17. No. Food, medicines, clothing in India are cheaper than here to buy in open market.
But any specialized items/materials needed, we sometimes buy it from here for NGOs. But
those are rare cases. Some other organizations are better equipped to do the items
you mentioned. Our experience in India disasters say they don't work effectively unlike in
US. So we don't have that process yet. We are getting lot of requests to do that. We need
to research and setup process for sending non-montery items.
Q18. How does the cash get in the hands of those providing relief?
A18. Usually we work with 80-G status NGOs in India (80-G in India is similar to 501(c)3
that we get in US for NPOs). Those organizations are monitored by India Tax Bureau.
Money we give them usually in incremental process based on work-in-progress.
We don't give large amount of money lump sum. We have a set of guidelines in
selecting projects with NGOs conforming to both US and Indian laws. (In relief time, we
may be flexible are money is needed urgently). We have volunteers going and monitoring
projects if they are large ones. We have 100+ volunteers, at least one of us or our
counterparts in India monitoring the activities. Our partner NGOs can monitor also if we
select a new NGO for a projects. We write Checks/Demand Draft to those organizations
directly from the account we have in Bank of Santa Clara. Sometimes, the local NGO may be
not big to be working as 80-G organization and getting foreign exchange. In such case our
partner NGOs get money and they work with the local NGO to provide money for the projects.
Volunteer FAQ
Q19. Who can volunteer?
A19. Any one currently working in your company.
Q20. What would I have to do?
A20. Volunteer duties include collecting and handing checks over to VIDE
coordinators and
distribute receipts to donors.
Q21. Who are the people that I can ask questions?
A21. Contact Avinash (atadmill@cisco.com - 408 853-0000) .
VIDE FAQ
Q22. What is VIDE?
A22. VIDE stands for Volunteers for India Development and Empowerment.
VIDE is a non-profit, non-religious, non-governmental organization that works with grass
roots NGOs
in India who implement developmental and empowerment projects.
VIDE members also do social work in the US and other countries.
Q23. Who are the VIDE executives?
A21. Romil Khansaheb - President, Murali Gandluru/Sreekanth Kannan/Vibhu Pratap
- Signatories.
Q23. How many members does VIDE have?
A22. 130+ and growing. Besides the executives there are a lot of committed, driven
volunteers who are part of the
VIDE family. They are our greatest assets.
Q24. Is VIDE an open forum?
A24. Yes, it most certainly is. Anyone can join. We encourage people from all walks of
life.
Q25. Where can I get more info on VIDE?
A25. At VIDE's official external web site, www.indiadev.net
Q26. What type of entity (i.e. qualified Not-for-Profit,
Corporation or Partnership)?
A26. VIDE is a chapter of SEEDS,Inc. SEEDS
is a Not-for-Profit Organization (NPO) incorporated in the state of Oregon. It's a
501(c)3 organization with tax-exempt status and EIN is 74-2723080
Q27. What is SEEDS address?
A27. SEEDS, 14485 NW Alta Lane, Portland, OR 97229
Q28. Who is contact person for us in VIDE?
A28. Contact Avinash (atadmill@cisco.com - 408 853-0000)