Project Evaluation Procedure
Stage 1
NGOs in India are introduced to Sankalp through Sankalp or ISU members. Additionally Sankalp scours organizations that can be approached for a possible collaboration. On hearing back from the organization we let them know what Sankalp is and how we do things. Organizations are then invited to fill in the First Contact Form (this can be made into a clickable online form?) that has some preliminary questions that need to be answered by the NGO.
You can download the First Contact Form here as well : First Contact Form
First Contact Form: Credibility of NGO
Below are some of the principles on which the credibility of the NGO is verified:
- The organization should have an FCRA (Foreign contributions regulation Act) code to facilitate hassle-free funding from Sankalp at ISU.
- The organization should not have any religious or communal inclinations
- The organization should not have any conflict with govt. regulations and should be legal.
- References are provided preferably through Sankalp members or otherwise through contacts at ISU past or present familiar with the NGOs. Sankalp members decide at this junction on the relevance of funding an organization – considering their funding sources and prominence in the public sphere. The aim is to cater to organizations that do not have access to funds that a well-established NGO might have.
- The aims and objectives of the organization are requested in order to ensure Sankalp is in a position to assist in furthering the NGO’s socially relevant measures.
Stage 2
Once the first contact form has been discussed by the committee a Second Contact Form regarding details of the proposed project they want us to fund is sent out.
You can download the Second Contact Form here as well : Second Contact Form
Second Contact Form: Proposed Budget for project
The second contact form contains details of the project vis-à-vis:
The target population that the project will benefit
- A detailed outline of what the project hopes to achieve
- Sustainability prospects – Can the project ensure independence and a measure of economic self-sustenance to the beneficiaries?
- If it’s an educational initiative – a long term investment for the organization – Are innovative measures being taken to carry these out for the beneficiaries?
During Sankalp meetings extensive discussions are carried out via a brief but informative presentation about a project, followed by a Q&A session from Sankalp members voicing their support or concerns regarding the project as outlined.
Detailed budgeting aspects are prodded and scrutinized by Sankalp members. If only certain portions of the project can be funded we ensure we talk to the NGO regarding additional sources of funding.
If and when possible Telephonic conversations or Skype sessions are conducted with the leaders of the NGO regarding the project for a more direct discussion of concerns Sankalp members may have.
Final decision and fund transfer:
After a number of projects have been slated for an academic year, Sankalp members are asked to vote for the projects in an order of priority. Depending on the funds raised through Daawat – Our annual fundraising dinner in Spring – projects are funded by this priority. If sufficient funding is available Sankalp funds all available projects.
- Sankalp contacts the respective NGO with their final decision
- Funds are usually dispatched in two installments.
- Halfway through a project a detailed report is requested with a breakdown of how funds given as the first installment were used. Only after a satisfactory report has been received are funds constituting the second installment dispatched. In the case that the organization fails to furnish a report of activities carried out with funds from Sankalp, further funding is utilized as surplus reserves for other viable projects.
