Who We Are

Marutham Foundation (hereinafter “Foundation”, “we”, “us”, “our”) is a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental conservation, education, and community empowerment. This Donation & Fund Allocation Policy outlines how we receive, manage, and allocate funds to fulfill our mission.

1. Donation Types & Uses

We accept donations for the following program areas. Donors may designate their contribution to a specific cause or choose general support:

• 🌱 Environment & Soil/Water Conservation – Sustainable agriculture, watershed restoration, rainwater harvesting, geospatial mapping for land management.
• 📚 Education & Scholarships – School supplies, digital literacy programs, mentorship initiatives, and higher education scholarships for rural and underprivileged students.
• 👩‍🌾 Livelihood & Empowerment – Support for women Self-Help Groups (SHGs), farmer training, indigenous cattle conservation, and skill-building workshops.
• 🐄 Indigenous Cattle Conservation – Care and protection of native cattle breeds, veterinary support, and awareness programs.
• 🤝 General Support – Unrestricted funds used where they are needed most, including administrative costs, outreach, and operational expenses.

2. Donation Processing & Receipts

• All donations are processed through secure payment gateways. We accept credit/debit cards, UPI, net banking, and bank transfers.
• Donors receive an instant digital receipt via email. Physical receipts can be requested for tax purposes.
• For donations above ₹2,000, a formal 80G certificate (for Indian taxpayers) is issued within 15 working days.
• We do not charge any processing fees to donors — 100% of your contribution goes toward our programs.

3. Fund Allocation & Transparency

• At least 85% of all donations are allocated directly to program activities and community projects.
• Up to 15% is used for operational costs (staff salaries, office rent, technology, communication, and fundraising expenses).
• We publish an annual impact report with detailed financial breakdowns, available on request or on our website.
• For designated donations (e.g., "Education"), funds are ring-fenced and used exclusively for that purpose.

4. Recurring Donations

• Donors may set up monthly or yearly recurring donations via UPI autopay or card subscriptions.
• Recurring donations can be modified, paused, or cancelled at any time (see Cancellation Policy below).
• You will receive an email confirmation for each recurring payment processed.

5. Corporate & Institutional Partnerships

• We welcome CSR collaborations, grants, and institutional funding.
• All partnerships are governed by a separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) detailing fund utilization, reporting, and impact measurement.
• We provide quarterly progress reports and field visit opportunities for institutional partners.

Marutham Foundation values every donor's trust and goodwill. We are committed to transparency and fairness. This policy outlines conditions under which donations may be refunded, adjusted, or redirected.

1. General Refund Policy

• One-time donations: Once processed, donations are generally non-refundable. However, we review each request on a case-by-case basis.
• Recurring donations: Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time (see Cancellation Policy). The current month's payment may be refunded if cancellation occurs within 3 business days of the charge date.
• Refund requests must be submitted in writing via email to refunds@maruthamfoundation.org within 15 days of the donation date.

2. Eligible Refund Circumstances

Refunds may be considered under the following circumstances (subject to verification):

• Duplicate or incorrect payment – If you were charged twice or the amount was incorrect.
• Unauthorized transaction – If a donation was made without your consent (please also report to your bank).
• Technical error – If the payment gateway failed and funds were deducted incorrectly.
• Donor remorse – We understand that circumstances change. If you contact us within 7 days of the donation, we may issue a full or partial refund at our discretion.

3. Non-Refundable Donations

Refunds will not be issued for:

• Donations made more than 15 days prior to the refund request.
• Funds that have already been allocated to program activities or disbursed to partners/communities.
• Donations below ₹500 (administrative costs may exceed the refund amount).
• Donations made through third-party platforms (e.g., crowdfunding sites) — please contact them directly.

4. Refund Processing

• Approved refunds are processed via the original payment method (e.g., same card or UPI account).
• Refunds are completed within 7–14 business days from the date of approval.
• You will receive a confirmation email with the transaction ID and refund status.
• Any bank or gateway charges deducted during the original transaction are non-refundable.

5. Donation Redirection

If you wish to redirect your donation to a different program area (e.g., from "General Support" to "Education"), we are happy to accommodate your request. Simply email us with your details, and we will update our records.

Marutham Foundation offers flexible recurring donation options to support our ongoing work in environmental conservation, education, and community empowerment. This policy explains how you can cancel, modify, or pause your recurring contributions.

1. Cancellation of Recurring Donations

• One-time donations cannot be cancelled once processed (see Refund Policy above).
• Recurring donations (monthly, quarterly, or yearly) can be cancelled at any time.
• To cancel, send an email to cancellations@maruthamfoundation.org with your registered email address and transaction details.
• Cancellation requests are processed within 2–3 business days.
• You will receive a confirmation email once your subscription is successfully cancelled.

2. Pausing or Modifying Recurring Donations

• You can pause your recurring donation for up to 3 months by emailing us with your request.
• You can also increase, decrease, or change the frequency of your donation.
• Changes take effect from the next billing cycle after your request is processed.

3. Processing Timeline

• Cancellation requests received less than 48 hours before the next scheduled charge may still be processed for that cycle.
• If you are charged after requesting cancellation, please email us and we will refund the amount (subject to Refund Policy terms).
• We recommend submitting requests at least 5 business days before your next billing date to ensure timely processing.

4. What Happens After Cancellation

• Your recurring donation will be discontinued, and no further charges will be made.
• We will not contact you for reactivation unless you choose to restart your contribution.
• If you wish to resume your donation, simply email us or donate again through our website.
• Your donation history and tax receipts remain accessible in your donor account (if created).

5. Contact for Cancellations

• For fastest processing, email: maruthamfoundationinfo@gmail.com
• Include your full name, registered email, and approximate donation date in your request.
• You can also call us during business hours (see contact below).