Donatekart
1. About Donatekart
Donatekart is a unique Indian crowdfunding platform based in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It allows people from across the globe to contribute towards products required by NGOs in India. These products are in turn delivered to the NGOs directly by Donatekart. As of March 2024, the platform has raised over 300 Crore worth of donations, for 1500+ NGOs with over 15 lakh donor transactions. The social enterprise's aim is to ensure transparency and encourage individuals and corporates to give back to society.
Donatekart is an organization dedicated to identifying and assisting change-makers who are committed to humanitarian efforts, even in the face of personal and financial challenges. They provide support to these individuals and initiatives through their Crowdfunding platform and Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.
| Donatekart | |
| Company type | Privately-held |
| Industry | Philanthropy |
| Founded | November 11, 2016; 7 years ago (2016-11-11) |
| Founders | Anil Kumar Reddy
Sandeep Sharma |
| Fate | Active |
| Headquarters | Hyderabad
, |
| Area served | Indian subcontinent |
| Website | donatekart.com |
2. History
Donatekart was founded in 2016 by 2 NIT Nagpur and 1 ICT Mumbai graduate, Anil Kumar Reddy, Sandeep Sharma and Sarang Bobade.
The inception of Donatekart began during the Chennai Floods 2015 while volunteering with Goonj Delhi, when the founders noticed that people were buying goods like rice and flour from e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart and shipping them to NGOs. But the on-ground needs were different- people urgently needed tarpaulins, mosquito nets, and blankets. There was a gap in providing donations based on what was needed on-ground.
This realization led to the innovative idea of creating a platform where NGOs could start campaigns by listing the products they required. Donors could then contribute funds for these specific items, ensuring a direct match between contributions and the real needs of the beneficiaries. This visionary concept gave rise to Donatekart, an organization committed to facilitating more effective and need-based philanthropy.
Donatekart was incubated by Zone Startups India, an accelerator program run by Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Mumbai. In 2018, they were incubated by T-Hub, Hyderabad. The business model was ranked second during the Azim Premji Social Enterprise Challenge held in Bangalore, in 2018.
Since its launch, Donatekart has worked with NGOs in Mumbai, Delhi, Rajkot, Jaipur, Pune, Ghaziabad, Bengaluru and other cities nationwide. Donatekart has also worked with numerous NGOs in the remote villages of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, North Bengal, TamilNadu, and more. They have delivered products like groceries, stationery, masks, sanitary pads, educational material, fodder, medicines, health care kits, etc. for different communities, people, and animal rescue organisations across the country.
3. Notable Campaigns
Donatekart helps raise essential products for a range of noble causes, including aiding underprivileged children, supporting mentally and physically challenged individuals, and the elderly, and caring for abandoned and voiceless animals. Its impact spans across the nation, extending not only to major urban centres but also reaching into smaller, tier 2 cities. They have not only assisted NGOs and individuals in metropolitan areas but have also made significant inroads in less urbanized regions.
Some of the more notable causes have received tremendous support. Among these is the campaign for Radha Surabi Gaushala in Mathura which raised over 17.3 million with support from over 11,000 donors. Nand Care Foundation’s campaign for 40,000 coal miners in Dhanbad has raised over 37.3 million with support from over 42,000 donors. Late Sindhutai Sapkal’s campaign to give orphaned children a better life has raised nearly 7 million.
Bangalore-based animal activist, Girish Anjenappa was able to raise 5.3 million for more than 500 sick and injured stray dogs. Triveni Acharya’s Rescue Foundation which works extensively with trafficking survivors and young women and children who have been forced into the sex trade raised 21.7 million. The Elephant Doctor of India, K K Sarma was able to raise more than 2 million with Donatekart’s support. An English teacher from Mumbai working to secure the future of slum kids raised more than 4.8 million. Dashraj Gwayali of Vinayak Blind Women Welfare Society raised over 4.6 million while Vasant Thakkar of Savali Care Centre for the mentally disabled raised 4.9 million.
4. Donatekart Disaster Relief Response
Donatekart has consistently demonstrated its commitment to disaster response since its relief efforts during the Kerala floods of 2018. In collaboration with T-Hub and Goonj, Donatekart swiftly raised relief materials worth 20 million within a week to aid the flood-affected communities.
During the devastating Maharashtra floods in 2021, Donatekart joined forces with Making The Difference to raise 1.2 million. This initiative aimed to support the rehabilitation of those displaced by the floods, providing essential items such as tarpaulins, blankets, kitchen utensils, and dry food.
In 2022, when floods struck Assam, Donatekart partnered with an on-ground NGO to raise over 3 million worth of products. These efforts enabled the distribution of grocery kits to hundreds of affected families, providing them with much-needed assistance.
Responding to the tragic earthquake in Turkey and Syria in February 2023, Donatekart raised nearly 20 million worth of products. These resources were utilized to provide emergency relief materials, including tents, medicines, blankets, hoodies, mobile toilets, groceries, and sanitary pads, to support the victims in rebuilding their lives.
In June 2023, a devastating train crash in Odisha resulted in numerous casualties and injuries. Donatekart swiftly collaborated with seven on-ground NGOs to ensure that emergency relief materials reached the victims and their families by raising nearly 10 million worth of products.
These materials included cooked meals, ready-to-eat meals, water bottles, clothing, wheelchairs, walking sticks, and more. The distribution efforts extended to hospitals in Odisha and the crash site, offering crucial aid during a challenging time.
The year 2023 witnessed widespread floods in North India, submerging several states, cities, towns, and villages. Donatekart's rapid response played a pivotal role in providing relief to affected populations in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Vrindavan, and more. Relief packages included groceries, hygiene kits, water bottles, tarpaulin sheets, umbrellas, blankets, and various other essentials. Over 5 million worth of products were raised to aid flood victims during this critical period.
Donatekart's unwavering dedication to disaster relief efforts has made a significant impact on countless lives, offering hope and assistance when it is needed most.
5. Covid-19 Response
During the COVID-19 pandemic spanning from 2020 to 2022, Donatekart emerged as a pivotal organization facilitating contributions for essential groceries and life-saving medical equipment to assist those in dire need.
Donatekart successfully garnered donations exceeding 300 million in value from a generous community of more than 150,000 donors. This remarkable achievement was accomplished through a highly efficient and transparent process. The donated medical equipment encompassed crucial items such as oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, hospital beds, oximeters, and more. These vital supplies were then promptly distributed to hospitals and individuals under home quarantine. Additionally, Donatekart collaborated with reputable NGOs, including Making The Difference and Hemkunt Foundation, raising 56 million and 137 million worth of products, respectively. These collaborative efforts, alongside partnerships with other NGOs, facilitated the distribution of grocery kits and food items to numerous families facing dire circumstances during the pandemic.
6. Innovations and Initiatives
Donatekart has continually strived to innovate and introduce novel initiatives aimed at fostering philanthropy and making it more accessible.
In a pioneering move, Donatekart launched India's first donation gift card in 2021. This innovative concept allows individuals and corporations to present others with the opportunity to support a charitable cause. The donation e-gift card can be easily sent to friends and family on various occasions or celebrations. Recipients can then redeem these gift cards to contribute to any of the campaigns featured on Donatekart's platform. This simple yet impactful act has the potential to create a meaningful difference for all parties involved.
In 2022, Donatekart introduced the Donatekart Social Investment Plan (DK-SIP). This initiative enables individuals to make regular contributions to their preferred causes every month, simplifying the process of supporting charitable endeavours. DK-SIP offers a diverse range of causes, including children's education, hunger eradication, assistance for stray animals, rescue and care for abandoned cows, and support for sadhus (spiritual ascetics). With hundreds of subscribers actively participating in this program, DK-SIP has continued to have a significant and positive impact on the lives of many individuals and communities.
These innovative initiatives reflect Donatekart's ongoing commitment to advancing philanthropy in India and empowering individuals and organizations to contribute to meaningful causes in a convenient and impactful manner.
7. Awards And Recognition
Donatekart is an award-winning platform and has received recognition under the NASSCOM Social Innovation Award, Edexlive 40 Under 40 list and the Greater Giving Summit hosted by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Their business model was ranked second during the Azim Premji Social Enterprise Challenge held in Bangalore, in 2018.
In September 2021, Donatekart was awarded the National Business Excellence And Achievers Award by Hon. Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan. In 2022, the founders of Donatekart were featured in the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list for their achievement in building an e-commerce donation platform.
8. Partnerships
Donatekart has established partnerships with over 200 corporations, including prominent names like Amazon India, Lumen Technology, Big Basket, and HDFC Bank. These collaborations primarily focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Giving and Employee Engagement initiatives. In the realm of CSR Giving, Donatekart is pioneering a revolution in disaster management by acting as the implementation partner for corporations like Amazon India in 2023-24. With an extensive network of more than 130 on-ground NGOs, Donatekart efficiently coordinates disaster relief responses, ensuring timely aid and recovery. They have also streamlined the procurement and distribution of essential supplies through their vendor partners, enabling swift assistance within 72 hours of a disaster. Donatekart's standardized relief kits are tailored to meet diverse needs, and their organizational readiness allows them to rapidly deploy resources to affected regions.
In the realm of Employee Engagement, Donatekart offers various initiatives, including "Pack a Ration Kit," where volunteers assemble ration kits for communities affected by natural disasters. These kits provide essential nutrition during challenging times. Donatekart also promotes environmental conservation through activities such as plogging, lake clean-up, and plantation drives, further exemplifying their commitment to making a positive impact on society.
9. Investors and Supporters
In 2018, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder of Paytm, endorsed Donatekart. The organization has been supported by HDFC Parivartan, a Corporate social responsibility initiative of HDFC Bank. During the 2018 Christmas, Donatekart partnered with HDFC Bank where donations from HDFC Bank employees fulfilled the wishes of 1,200 poor kids acrossIndia. The organization also initiated a matching donation drive with Yes Foundation, a CSR initiative of Yes Bank, where 7 campaigns were 100% matched by Yes Foundation whenever any donation was made to such campaigns
In May 2019, Donatekart raised 25.5 million in seed funding from LetsVenture and other investors. Shanti Mohan, the founder of LetsVenture joined the board of the organization as part of the round.
10. In News
Donatekart has been covered by leading newspapers and digital platforms like The Times Of India, The New Indian Express, Outlook Business, The Hindu, The Better India, The Eastern Herald, Business Standard and Your Story among others.
| Company type | Privately-held |
|---|---|
| Industry | Philanthropy |
| Founded | November 11, 2016 |
| Founders | Anil Kumar Reddy Sandeep Sharma |
| Fate | Active |
| Headquarters | Hyderabad , |
Area served | Indian subcontinent |
| Website | donatekart |
Accolades[edit]
| Award | Year | Organizer |
|---|---|---|
| Social Innovation Award | 2018 | NASSCOM[1] |
| Azim Premji Social Enterprise Challenge[2] | 2018 | - |
| 40 under 40 | 2017 | The New Indian Express[3] |
References[edit]
- ^ AuthorTelanganaToday. "WCIT 2018 push for social innovation". Telangana Today.
- ^ Naidu, Siddharth (26 February 2018). "[VoxSpace Exclusive] The Story Of Donatekart : Achieving Social Contribution Through An eCommerce Platform".
- ^ "Kerala flood Relief Initiative by Crowd-funding platform Donatekart, sends Rs 1.5 Crore worth material". www.delhi99.tv.