CFR Volunteer Guide

a. Technical Guidance
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MAD 101 (MAD + Vision + History + Footprint + Legalities + Financial Details)

MAD Projects (General Info + Costing)
MAD in your City
Fundraising Resources
Donation Channels
DONUT User guide (critical information)

1. MAD 101
What does MAD do?
Make A Difference empowers children living in orphanages and street shelters to discover their true strengths and unleash
their full potential. We are a movement of young people taking ownership of the institutionalized children in our community.
What is MADs vision?
To ensure every vulnerable child in the society is able to learn and achieve their true potential.
Our approach to fulfill our vision:
MAD volunteers implement projects that provide these children with skills that ensure a better future, role models they can
relate to and exposure that helps them dream big.
How did MAD start?
On an unexpected visit to a shelter home in Kerala (Cochin) , MAD's founders, who were college students then, were exposed
to the inequalities in education. Children at shelter homes were bright and had aspirations but did not have quite the means to
succeed at reaching their aspirations.
The founders went back to the same center, YMCA Boys' Home Thrikkakara, and set up a library early in 2006, which marked
the unofficial beginnings of Make A Difference.
Footprint:
Right now, close to 2480 MAD volunteers cater close to 4300 children in the Indian cities of Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh,
Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Delhi, Guntur, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangalore, Mumbai, Mysore,
Nagpur, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, Vellore, Vijayawada and Vishakapatnam. We operate in 85 shelter homes across the
country.
Legalities:
The official registration for the organization was completed on November 1st, 2006. A Charitable Society registered under the
Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act (Act 12 of 1955).
Finance:
MAD is eligible to receive both domestic and foreign funds. We have 80G exemption and registered under FCRA (Foreign
Currency Regulation Act)

Domestic Donors: Were eligible to provide 80G tax exemption to all domestic donors. 80G receipts will be issued within 20
days of the cash being credited to MAD account.
Foreign Donors: Were eligible to receive foreign donations. MAD raises its direct foreign donations through the Global Giving
platform - US Link / UK Link. If donors are from US & UK - Global giving directly issues tax exemption certificate valid in their
country.

2. MAD Projects
MAD effectively runs four projects in shelter homes across the country
a. English Project (Connect):
Volunteers act as role models and deliver 4 hours of English classes during weekends.
b. Placements Project (Discover):
This project helps children dream and pursue their passion by giving them exposure and experiences in multiple fields of
interest.
c. Center Improvement Project (Fortify):
Improves center environment by providing most needed infrastructural changes.
d. Dream Camp:
Year end camp organized to identify and boost the skills of children.

MADs Costing Details

a. English Project (Connect):
Syllabus provided by Cambridge University Press.
Cost of 1 child per year Rs. 4000
b. Placements Project: (Discover)
Cost of 1 child per year Rs. 4200
c. Dream Camp:
Per Child - varies from city to city. Refer to the city budgets doc.
d. Center Improvement: (Fortify)
Budget per 1 shelter home - Rs. 50,000

4. Donation channels
a. Cash. [Use DONUT to collect funds. Click here for DONUT user guide]
b. Cheque - In favour of Make A Difference, Cochin
c. Demand Draft - In favour of Make A Difference, Cochin ; Payable at Cochin.
d. Online Donate Page - www.makeadiff.in/payment/donate
e. Global Giving (For Foreign Donors) - US & rest of the world: Link ; for UK - Link
f. Monthly Donors (internally called ECS donors/ ECS = Electronic Clearance Service):
Donor needs to fill out the ECS form to donate a fixed amount of money directly from one's bank account every month for a
fixed time period. Contact your CFR Fellow / Finance fellow for the forms.

E.g. To donate Rs 300/- from my bank account directly for 5 months I can opt for ECS.
Contact your city CFR fellow to acquire the ECS form.

5. DONUT User guide

DONUT is an application used by MAD volunteers to acknowledge a donation in cash/cheque. It is NOT a receipt.
How to use the app 1. Install the app from playstore => DONUT(Make A Difference)
2. Register from the number that there's on Madapp.
3. When you receive a donation, open the app and follow the steps Add Donations => General donations => fill all details => submit.
IMPORTANT - Use the app ONLY when you have received the donation in hand.
After submitting details 1. Fill in all details of the donor in the doc.
2. Send an SMS with all donor details to your POC.
3. Inform your POC to approve the donation on the website within 48 hours of handing over the amount to him.
4. Track the status of receipt online on the donut website => bit.ly/maddonut
DONUT Introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pbsRilXjfY
DONUT (Volunteer Guide): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3_mutSLLHU

Below is the SMS Format for adding donations. SMS has to be sent to +91-9220092200:
TMAD <donor_name>**<phone_number>**<email_id>**<amount>**<Y/N(80G)>

Eg: TMAD Aditya Surneni**9895068744**aditya@makeadiff.in**500**N

9220092200
Note:
1. All the fields are compulsory.
2. Whether it is 80G donation or not is indicated by a 'y' or 'n'.
3. '**' is used to separate the different fields.

<to> +91-

Volunteer to Donor Email Template (General)

Hey,

Im a part of a youth movement called Make A Difference with an objective of providing equal opportunities to
children in orphanages and street shelter across the country. MAD works with 85 shelter homes, reaching out to
nearly 4300 children through its network of 3000 volunteers. This movement/network is spread across 23 cities in
the country and is one of India's largest volunteer networks in the education space. Check out our: Website | Blog
| Facebook fan page.
We run primarily 3 main programs:
Project Connect (English): Teaches English communication skills to ensure that their children have equal
opportunities once they leave the shelter homes. Click here to contribute to this project.
Project Discover (Placements): Builds aspirations & dreams in children by exposing them to new careers, skills and
ideas so they can make an informed career choice. Click here to contribute to this project.
Dream Camps: Provides children a channel to learn, express themselves and shapes their emotional/mental
resilience. Prepares them for life. Click here to contribute to this project.
You can check out this presentation that showcases more recent details about MAD's programs & success stories.
Your contributions will go a long way in ensuring that our childrens future is defined by their skills and aspirations
& not by their circumstances.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------For international donors, please edit the above donate links and insert US/UK links accordingly. They can donate
through the Global Giving platform. Now's a great time as the rupee value favors international donations!

Fundraising Templates
Hi ______ this is _______. Are you busy?

(Wait for answer. While chit-chat can be a good way to start the conversation, keep in mind that the longer you wait to get to
the point, the harder it will be. And be careful not to give the impression to your friends that you are calling just to catch up,
because that will seem insincere when you get to the real reason you are calling.)

Have you heard about Make A Difference, the organization Ive been working closely with? You know, I'm fundraising for a
project called Dream Camp, where we give a great experience to children from shelter homes. Its Rs._____ to sponsor a
child. Would you be interested?

(Wait for answer. Depending on the response either move on or explain what MAD is, what we do, and who we serve.)
"Make A Difference (MAD) is a youth volunteer network that seeks to provide equitable opportunities for children at risk .
Through our volunteer network, we conduct English classes and Career Awareness Programs for children living in orphanages
and shelters for the under privileged . MAD also conducts yearly camps for our kids besides running a center improvement
project. As I said earlier my fundraising goal is Rs_______, and Im doing some legwork to try and get closer to it. I was
wondering if you could help me out with a Rs________ donation? "

(1) It is very important to aim high. Although some people may not be able to give such a high amount you never know until
you ask.
(2)Wait for an answer, and dont be afraid of the awkward silence. Silence means that they are thinking; it should be clear
that it is their turn to speak.)

Thank you. Thats really great and its going to get me a lot closer to my goal. Would you like to write a check, donate
online, or donate in cash ?

( Be sure you write down what they are doing , and follow up and verify the transaction has taken place.)
Tips:

1. Resist the temptation to give your friend an easy out by saying, Its totally cool if you cant help out, or no big

2.

deal if you cant, really. That technique takes pressure off your friend, but it sends them the message that this
cause is not that serious to you, and may lessen the commitment they would be willing to make otherwise.
Be sure to thank your friend for donating. Then hang up the phone and pat yourself on the back. Youve just gotten
one step closer to reaching your goal.

Dos and Don'ts of Asking for Money: Effective Approaches for Personal Solicitation By Tricia Rubacky, Director of
Development, Open Society Institute

DOs

1. Assume it will go well, and try to relax.

2. Develop a script for asking. (See the sample script above)
3. Talk about why you care about this cause; remember, your commitment is showing
4. Convey a true story about the impact the organization is having
5. Practice on someone who will critique your approach and give you honest feedback. (They may even make a
donation!)

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Plan ahead. If you are asking in person, know where you are going to meet and be on time.
Try to ask for a donation face-to-face; the next best approach is by phone.
Tell the prospective donor your goal. Ask for a specific contribution, then stop talking.
Listen to what the donor says and respond to the questions and comments they make.
Thank the donor for the donation, for spending the time with you, and for thinking about it if they did not decide
on the spot.
11. Celebrate your success. Getting out there and asking is a huge step.
DONTs

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Apologize for asking, or for taking up their time.

Begin by joking about hitting them up or twisting their arm. Fundraising is not a contact sport.
Dont squeeze in the ask in an elevator, in line at the grocery store, or in any other setting where the
circumstances limit the flow of the conversation.
4. Decide not to ask. You will get through it!
5. Try to fill in pauses or gaps in conversation by continuing to talk. Sometimes silence is golden.
6. Interrupt the person while they are speaking.
7. Hear no if the donor is saying maybe or not now.
8. Take it personally if the person says no. Most likely, their response has nothing to do with you.
9. Make up answers to questions if you are unsure. Its better to promise to get back to the donor with an answer.
10. Give up or get discouraged easily.