Senior citizens NGO in India: Bridging the gap between NGOs and corporates

Ritika Pathak

, NGO Hour

Bridging NGOs like VridhCare and Impactify are among the organisations bringing corporates and NGOs closer

NGOs around the world have been working tirelessly to cater to the needs and requirements of the ones they serve. However, with challenging times, an overwhelming wave of economic downfall has surrounded these NGOs. It is in times like these that they have been struggling for survival in terms of providing livelihood to their residents. For these organizations, ensuring good health and sufficient food allocation amongst the residents is a challenging task. However, managing finance accordingly is just as difficult. This is where bridging NGOs play a significant role.

What are Bridging NGOs?

As the name suggests, Bridging NGOs act as a bridge between corporates and NGOs. Most often, the companies conduct CSR activities through donating and contributing to senior citizens NGO in India. However, with the rising cases of mismanagement of funds, corporates have been gazing upon the NGOs with sceptical eyes.

Bridging NGOs across India promote transparency and a strong suit when it comes to contributions and donations of each corporate. Working by the law and staying true to their roots, these organizations are responsible for maintaining a sufficient flow of necessary funds and contributions to serve old age NGOs.

CSR and Senior Citizens NGO in India

As per the regulations by the government, an organization must set aside an amount equal to 2% of its average net profits for annual CSR activities. These activities can be a fund raiser for charity, contributing household appliances, food or computers and other products that can be used in skill enhancement programs at old age homes.

Difference between Bridging NGOs and regular NGOs

There is a very significant difference between Bridging NGOs and regular NGOs. While regular NGOs might have a physical presence, Bridging NGOs mainly have a virtual presence. Usually, Bridging NGOs don’t occupy physical grounds for admission of the needy but regular NGOs, on the other hand, expand over several acres for setting up facilities for their residents. In addition to this, Bridging NGOs are one common link between regular NGOs and corporates so that both can participate directly with each other, which in turn promotes transparency.

Are there any Bridging NGOs in India?

Some of the leading bridging NGOs in India are VridhCare, BridgeIndia, Impactify, etc. These NGOs have been helping the corporates achieve their CSR goals as well as ensure smooth functioning of regular NGOs.

Bridging NGOs & Digital Empowerment

According to a research conducted by ESADE and PwC, only 8% of the NGOs have a digital transformation strategy. Bridging NGOs are strong believers in making senior citizen NGOs a humble abode as well as a place to enhance skills with the help of programmes and services. For an Old Age NGO, it enhances the ability to automate services, increases the possibilities for collaboration, and the potential of a culture of innovation.

Few of the major challenges for the senior citizens NGO in India are to use technology for program transformation and improving the service for users; reducing the time between data collection and decision-making through the use of advanced data analytics, redistributing roles in the third sector as a result of the disintermediation and promote collaboration and innovation.

How does a Bridging NGO operate?

Bridging NGOs are often approached by corporates or regular non-profit organisations in order to seek their services. These NGOs usually have multiple partners who regularly donate or contribute via charity in the form of clothes, money or other essentials. Staying true to their roots, i.e, transparency, these NGOs also provide every single detail about the transaction or delivery of the items. The confidentiality of angel contributors is also of integral value for these organizations.

Role of Bridging NGOs in various sectors

  1. Healthcare
  2. Business
  3. Education
  4. Environment
  5. Social Welfare

Healthcare

The study observed that around one per hundred organizations primarily involved in health activities has tie ups with a hospital. Outreach activities are among the most worked health activity of about 88% of subsidiary health-NGOs in India. It is essential to generate awareness among the population. Over 60 NGOs in India are engaged in outreach activities.

Private Businesses

NGO-private sector partnership development will result in major benefits for both participating private sector corporations and NGOs. Benefits range from increased available assets, resources, and capital — including human, network, financial, and community — to an increased potential for sustainable development assistance provision, enhanced legitimacy and reputation.

Education

In India, Non-governmental organisations working for education play a crucial role in providing education to underprivileged children across the country. They do this by organizing awareness workshops to ensure that their families encourage the children to study.

Environment

NGOs across the country are actively involved in environmental activities. For example: Promoting eco-friendly alternatives to various practices like using cow dung log machine instead of firewood, encouraging water harvesting practices, composting, reducing green gas emission, etc. NGOs worldwide have also been successful in revolutionizing the environmentally sustainable practices to help corporates become more aware of the major concerns faced by the world today.

Social Welfare

Regular NGOs organize several programmes which are aimed at developing the social front of the country through the limited means possible. From providing direct benefit by donating directly to the needy, NGOs sometimes collaborate with private organizations to serve a particular community. NGOs working for social welfare are of much importance to the world. As the population and challenges increase, homelessness and poverty also take a toll for the worst and at a time like this, NGOs are certainly the biggest support for the needy.

Why are Bridging NGOs important?

Bridging NGOs are created to not only educate the existing NGOs the sustainable way of maintaining functionality but also to do so in a transparent way so that individuals and businesses will trust the organisations and invest more in them. Bridging NGOs, in collaboration with regular NGOs and corporates, have been proving to be substantial in bringing about a smooth flow of funds as well as donations/contribution. These NGOs are especially an integral element when it comes to ensuring a positive relationship between private firms and NGOs.

 

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