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The Red Heart Foundation:

The Red Heart Foundation traces its origins to the reality of its country of birth: India, a country with the youngest population on the planet and yet a country that will have over 430 million 70-year-olds in 2 years from now, a country that tops the global chart in smartphone penetration, but also one of where 16% of the population live below poverty line. This dichotomy of life in this subcontinent is what led to the creation of an organisation that intends to help people help people.

India is known for its pluralism and respect for diverse cultures, languages, and religions. This ethos promotes tolerance, acceptance, and harmony among different groups. Serving others without expecting anything in return is a significant aspect of the Indian ethos. It is seen as a way to purify oneself and contribute to the well-being of society. Contentment is considered a virtue, and material wealth is often viewed as secondary to spiritual wealth. Knowledge and education have traditionally been highly valued in Indian culture, with the focus on holistic education that includes moral and spiritual development along with intellectual growth.

As India has raced to greater heights than ever before on the global stage, it is heartening to see that its heart is still in the right place. Charitable aid in India is in the range of about 25 Billion USD. According to data and reports from recent years:

  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):
    • With the enforcement of the Companies Act, 2013, large companies in India are required to spend at least 2% of their average net profits on CSR activities. This has significantly boosted charitable donations.
    • In the fiscal year 2020-2021, Indian companies spent approximately ₹20,000 crores (about $2.7 billion USD) on CSR activities.
  • Individual and Other Donations:

    • Individual philanthropy has also been on the rise. According to the India Philanthropy Report 2021 by Bain & Company and Dasra, individual donations in India were estimated to be around ₹75,000 crores (about $10 billion USD) in 2020.
  • Religious and Trust Donations:
    • Donations to religious institutions and trusts, which play a substantial role in Indian charity, also contribute significantly.
  • Foreign Contributions:
    • Foreign contributions to Indian charities are also noteworthy. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, foreign contributions to NGOs in India amounted to approximately ₹22,000 crores (about $3 billion USD) in the fiscal year 2019-2020.

Summarizing these various sources, the total charitable donations in India can be estimated to be in the range of ₹1.5 lakh crores to ₹2 lakh crores (approximately $20 billion to $27 billion USD) annually, considering corporate, individual, religious, and foreign donations. This is a rough estimate and actual figures can fluctuate.

These are numbers that are rarely, if ever, celebrated or advertised. Because empathy is automatic when you live in India. And need far outweighs donations. Be it a child that needs fees for higher education, or the village in need a better nutrition, or a destitute person in need of medical attention, or a host of other scenarios… there is always a need. And this need is best served by the collective. The Red Hearts.

That’s how the Red Heart Foundation was started.

When we realised that while a few individuals could make a world of a difference, the burden of sustaining that effort could not be theirs alone. And thus, on the shoulders of efforts already in place, the Red Heart Foundation was formed.

To create a world where giving is second nature.

To create platforms for distribution of wealth to worthy causes.

To support causes that support causes.