GivingTuesday in India: How to Take Part and Give Well

GivingTuesday is a global day of generosity that encourages people, companies and communities to give to causes they care about. It began in 2012 and is held every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States, which usually falls in late November or early December. Many Indians, both at home and abroad, now use the day as a reminder to support a cause.

This guide explains what GivingTuesday is, how you can take part from India or as an NRI, ways to give beyond money, how to choose an NGO and what to keep in mind about tax benefits.

What is GivingTuesday?

GivingTuesday was created as a response to the shopping days around Thanksgiving, such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The idea is simple: after days focused on buying, set aside one day focused on giving. Today it is an independent global movement with participants in many countries. People donate, volunteer, raise funds for causes and share acts of kindness on social media using #GivingTuesday.

India also has its own giving traditions, including Daan Utsav, a festival of giving held every year in the first week of October, along with daan and seva practices that are part of many festivals and faiths. GivingTuesday adds another moment in the calendar to give with intention.

Ways to take part in GivingTuesday from India

Make a donation

Choose an NGO whose work you trust and make a one-time or monthly donation. A recurring gift helps organisations plan ahead. Read our guide to monthly donation to an NGO to see why it works.

Start a fundraiser

Ask friends, family or colleagues to give to a cause with you. Set a small goal, share why it matters to you and post updates. Many people find it easier to give when someone they know asks.

Give in someone’s name

You can donate in honour of a birthday, an anniversary or in memory of a loved one. Our guide on donating in memory of a loved one explains how.

Volunteer your time or skills

Teaching, mentoring, design, writing, photography, accounting and legal advice are all valuable to NGOs. Skilled volunteering can save an organisation money it would otherwise spend on services.

Encourage giving at work

Companies can run a giving drive, match employee donations or organise team volunteering. See our ideas for employee volunteering in India and our guide to payroll giving.

Spread the word

Share an NGO’s story, a fundraiser link or a volunteer opportunity on your social media. Awareness brings in new supporters.

GivingTuesday for NRIs

If you live outside India, GivingTuesday is a good moment to support work in your home country. Before you give, check whether the Indian NGO is permitted to accept foreign contributions, since Indian law requires NGOs to hold registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act to receive donations from foreign sources. Ask the organisation how it can accept your gift and what receipt it will provide. You may also be able to support it through Indian-rupee accounts or family members in India, depending on the rules that apply to you. Our guide to choosing an education NGO to donate to lists questions worth asking.

How to choose an NGO for GivingTuesday

1. Pick a cause you care about. Education, health, women’s empowerment, animal welfare or the environment: giving feels more meaningful when it is personal.
2. Check registration. Ask whether the NGO is a registered trust, society or Section 8 company, and whether it holds 12A and 80G registration.
3. Look at the work. Read about the programmes, the people they serve and the results they report.
4. Ask how funds are used. Good organisations explain where donations go and share updates with donors.
5. Give through official channels. Use the NGO’s own website or a verified fundraising platform, and avoid sending money to personal accounts.

Tax benefits: what to know about 80G

Donations to NGOs registered under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act may be eligible for a tax deduction for donors who pay tax in India under the old tax regime. Keep the official receipt, which should show the NGO’s name, address, PAN, 80G registration details and the amount. Tax rules change and depend on your situation, so check with a tax adviser before you rely on a deduction. Purchases of cause merchandise do not count as donations and are not eligible for 80G.

Why small gifts matter

It is easy to think that only large donations make a difference. In practice, many NGOs rely on a broad base of individual donors giving modest amounts. Small, regular gifts add up, they are predictable, and they show that a community stands behind the work. A single donation can cover a learning resource, a day of training or travel to a class. When you also share why you gave, you encourage others to do the same, and the effect of your gift grows.

Make your GivingTuesday plan

• Decide your budget and the cause you want to support.
• Shortlist two or three NGOs and check them.
• Choose how you will give: money, time, skills or your voice.
• Invite one or two friends to give with you.
• Follow up later to see what your gift helped achieve.

Support women’s media education with Karuna Media

Karuna Media is run by Puppets Picture Education Trust (PPET) in Noida. Through our 12-month Karuna Media Master Program, we train women from underprivileged homes in media, filmmaking and AI skills, with job placement support, so they can build stable careers. This GivingTuesday, you can make a donation to support our work. CSR teams can explore partnership on our program page, and if you know a woman who could benefit, encourage her to apply to the program.