Due Diligence of NGOs

At United Way Mumbai our aim is to set the highest international standards of due diligence on the NGO's that we support. 

Doing the due diligence of an NGO sometimes may often seems like trying to measure how many gallons of water on an average is contained in the Indian Ocean. 

This is because unlike a business entity wherein usually goods or services are easily measurable, thereby enabling evaluation of performance, measuring the impact of a microfinance training program on a community of village women, or the impact of dance, drama or music therapy on mentally challenged adults or evaluating how a child rights program has been implemented across 150 schools across 15 villages is a task that spans several fairly uncontrollable dimensions often leading into the realm of subjectivity.

Also most of the NGOs are primarily focused on the implementation of their programs, with minimal efforts in the area of creation of a business plan and a strategy roadmap for both the NGO as an organization as well as its programs.  This is often due to the constraint in finances resulting in a Catch 22 situation wherein the NGO cannot get clarity on its future roadmap and hence is not able to raise sufficient funds to enable it to achieve the clarity. . .

United Way Differentiator

United Way Mumbai therefore focuses on a small group of NGOs with the intention to help do the highest due diligence and build and in-depth understanding of the NGO.  The partnership with the NGO is aimed towards strengthening the NGO's foundation build its capacity and help build a clear road with measurable milestones into the future.

Bringing the Community Together

United Way of Mumbai helps people in need by building partnerships with corporations, donors, volunteers, central and state and local government agencies, and community-based organizations including NGOs that deliver social services directly to people in need. Through our Community Action Strategy, we lead programs and efforts in our forced "Action Areas." We partner with those agencies that have expertise in our Action Areas.

Examples of direct service providers include child care centers, youth development agencies and community civic issue programs. We provide a wide range of support to direct service providers, including funding and services to build capacity so that they can more efficiently and effectively operate. By leveraging corporate relationships and through volunteer support and donations to United Way Mumbai, we are able to provide these and other types of support to agencies:

" Program development and implementation
" Grants
" Assistance with budgeting and strategic planning
" Legal and accounting consultancy
" Supporting salaries
" Technology training and IT planning
" Volunteer recruitment, including Board placement

We do not provide direct services or assistance to individuals and families.