NGO Due Diligence: What We Do So You Don’t Have To
Ever stared at an NGO’s website and wondered—
“Is this for real?” “Where is my money actually going?” “Who’s behind this feel-good story?”
You’re not alone.
Whether you’re an individual donor or a CSR team managing crores, figuring out which NGO to support can feel like finding a needle in a haystack—especially when everyone sounds equally passionate, urgent, and well-intentioned.
That’s where HelpYourNGO steps in.
We do the digging, checking, verifying, and decoding—so that you don’t have to.
Let us take you behind the scenes.
First things first—what even is NGO due diligence?
It’s more than Googling a name or glancing at a fancy brochure.
Due diligence means verifying an NGO’s credibility, financial health, governance, compliance, and track record—so you know whether they’re actually walking the talk.
It’s the boring-but-critical stuff that makes your giving smart, safe, and sustainable.
So what does HelpYourNGO actually check?
We follow a multi-layered process that’s built on over 20 years of experience.
Here’s a peek into our checklist:
1. Legal Compliance
We check whether the NGO is:
- Registered under a valid Trust/Society/Section 8 license
- Holds current 12A, 80G, and FCRA approvals (where applicable)
- Filing annual returns and audits on time
No paperwork = no listing.
2. Financial Analysis (Yes, we crunch the numbers)
We don’t just look at how much money they raise. We study:
- Where it’s coming from
- How it’s being spent
- How much goes to programs vs. admin costs
- Year-on-year trends
- Reserves and sustainability
We even present this data in user-friendly formats on our website—because spreadsheets shouldn’t need a decoder ring.
3. Governance Review
Who runs the NGO? Are board meetings regular? Board relationships?
We check for:
- Independent trustees/directors
- Conflict of interest or red flags
- Disclosure of key personnel and salaries
- Related party transactions
Transparency matters. We call it out when it’s missing.
4. Project Outcome Evaluation
It’s not enough to say “We help children.”
We ask:
- How many children?
- Where?
- How often?
- What’s changed for them since the project started?
And when available, we study third-party evaluations, testimonials, and project reports.
5. Direct Interactions
We don’t just go by what’s on paper.
We speak with the NGOs, visit projects when possible, and ask questions that first-time donors may not even think to ask.
It’s how we separate polished pitches from real, on-ground work.
Why this matters to YOU
Think of us as your personal risk-reduction team for philanthropy.
Whether you’re:
- A first-time donor who wants to support education
- A family office seeking trusted giving options
- A corporate doing CSR in 10+ states
We give you clarity and confidence. You focus on giving. We handle the groundwork.
How can you use this due diligence?
Glad you asked!
On our website, you can Make informed giving decisions in minutes. Each NGO’s profile showcases —financial overviews, program details and compliance checks.
You can:
- By referring to the % Spent on the Beneficiaries (our USP) – See how much of their funds go to beneficiaries
- Using the search tool, filter by location or cause
- Using the compare tool, compare shortlisted NGOs across multiple criteria.
TL;DR?
HelpYourNGO’s due diligence means you no longer have to:
- Worry if the NGO is “real”
- Scan through endless annual reports
- Chase paperwork for tax exemptions
- Guess how your money is being used
We’ve already done the math, asked the tough questions, and verified the facts.
Ready to give smarter?
✨ Browse verified NGOs at website
✨ Reach out to us for custom recommendations
✨ Or just bookmark us for the next time your heart tells you to give—and your head wants to double-check
WE EVALUATE. YOU DONATE.
Regards
Niharika Singh
Manager, HYNGO
