Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the things people ask us most — about the work, about giving, and about joining in. If your question is not here, just ask us.
About the Foundation
What does Ubantu Foundation actually do?
We work with rural and semi-urban communities on livelihoods and governance. The work runs across six programmes: cooperative development, integrated farming, gender inclusion and skill development, digital literacy and financial inclusion, advocacy and good governance, and Young Minds for Change.
In practice that usually means training — candle making, bio-enzymes, stitching, digital skills — delivered to self-help groups, farmer producer organisations and women’s collectives, alongside help accessing government welfare schemes.
Where do you work?
Goa, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra, plus online programmes that reach participants anywhere in India. We have offices in six locations and have worked across twelve districts.
When was the Foundation set up?
Ubantu Foundation was registered as a social organisation in October 2018 under the Companies Act, 2013.
What does the name mean?
It comes from the southern African philosophy of ubuntu — roughly, “I am because we are”. The idea that a person’s wellbeing is bound up with the wellbeing of the people around them is the premise the Foundation works from.
Giving and CSR partnerships
Can I donate online?
Not at the moment — we do not have an online payment facility on this website. If you would like to support the work, please get in touch and we will explain the options and send you whatever documentation you need.
Are you registered to receive CSR funds?
Yes. The Foundation holds CSR-1, 80G and 12A registrations and is listed on the NITI Aayog NGO Darpan portal.
Can I see your annual report and audited financials?
Yes. Copies of our registration and certification documents and our audited financial statements are provided to donors, CSR partners and grant-makers on request. Tell us what your due-diligence process needs and we will send it.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
The Foundation holds 80G registration, which allows donors to claim a deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act. Please confirm the current position and the applicable limits with us and with your own tax adviser before you give.
Who funds your work at the moment?
A mix of CSR partners, institutional collaborations and individual supporters. The funders and the institutions we have signed MoUs with are named on our Transparency page.
Volunteering and internships
How do I volunteer?
Fill in the volunteer form and tell us what you would like to do and how much time you have. Volunteering is flexible — some people help in the field, others help remotely with research, design, documentation or social media.
How long is an internship?
Six to eight weeks minimum. A significant share of that time is spent in the field, working directly with cooperative members, women’s groups and rural communities.
Do you take students from colleges as a group?
Yes. Six interns from T. A. Pai Management Institute worked with the Foundation in 2025, and interns from the Goa Institute of Management did a CSR research project in 2024. If your institution wants to place a cohort, write to us — that is how both of those started.
Do you pay interns, and do you give certificates?
Please ask us directly about the terms for the internship you are applying for — they depend on the project and the duration. Use the internship form and we will come back to you.
Can I volunteer from outside India?
Remote volunteering is possible for research, writing, design and documentation work. Please get in touch and tell us what you would like to contribute.
Working with us
My community group would like a training programme. How do we ask?
Send us a message with your location, the group you represent and what kind of training you are looking for. Most of our programmes start exactly this way, usually through a self-help group, a cluster-level federation or a producer organisation.
Do you work with universities and institutions?
Yes. We have signed MoUs with institutions including IIT (BHU) Varanasi, and we work with the National Cooperative Union of India, NDDB Dairy Services, NIFT and several management schools. The full list is on the Transparency page.
Do you work outside India?
We have an active engagement with Mozambique on India–Mozambique cooperation in livelihoods, incubation and technology transfer, following the African Cooperative Conference. Our Founder also serves on the Trade and Business Committee of the International Cooperative Alliance.
I am a journalist. Who do I speak to?
Write to connect@ubantuindia.org or call +91 85951 89797 and we will put you in touch with the right person.
Can I use your photographs or written material?
Please ask first. Many of our photographs show identifiable people who agreed to be photographed for our own use, so we cannot pass them on without checking. Email us and tell us what you need them for.
This website
Is the site available in Hindi?
Yes — use the language switcher at the top right. Some of the newer pages are English-only for now; those will show in English until the Hindi version is ready.
What do you do with the information I submit through a form?
We use it to reply to you and, where relevant, to process your volunteer or internship application. We do not sell it or pass it to anyone else for marketing.
I have found a mistake on the site. Where do I report it?
Please tell us — genuinely useful. Send us a message with the page and what is wrong, and we will fix it.
Still have a question?
Ask us directly. We would rather answer than have you guess.
Send us a message