How Corporate Donations to Non-Profits are Powering Pediatric Heart Care in India?

In India, every year, thousands of children are born with congenital heart defects (CHD), a condition that can be life-threatening if left untreated. The costs of congenital heart defect treatment often range between ₹2,00,000 and ₹4,00,000, which become out of reach for families earning less than ₹20,000 a month. Thankfully, corporates across the country are stepping up to change this reality. By making corporate donations to charities like Gensis Foundation, corporates are ensuring that no child with CHD is denied access to quality care because of lack of funds.

CSR Landscape in India

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an Act under the Companies Act (2013) is governed by Section 135, Schedule VIII of the Act and Companies Rules 2014.

According to the Act, companies with a net worth of Rs 500 crore or more, or a turnover of over Rs 1,000 crore or a net profit exceeding Rs 5 crore in any financial year, must spend 2% of the average profits for the preceding three years on CSR Projects. Some of the themes under Schedule VIII where companies can spend on CSR projects are as follows:

• Eradicating hunger, poverty and malnutrition, promoting healthcare including preventive healthcare
• Promoting education including special education and enhancing employment and vocational skills
• Promoting gender equality
• Environmental Sustainability etc.

How Corporate Partnerships Help NGOs like Genesis Foundation?

Corporate charity donations received from corporate partnerships help Genesis Foundation, a children’s healthcare foundation, to raise money for child surgery and support as many children diagnosed with CHD who come from families with low-income. Besides, the donations help non-profits like us in getting the necessary funds to undertake activities such as screening camps that aim at building awareness and timely intervention of the disease. In addition, there are many overheads costs that need to be covered for organisations to function effectively. Corporate donations to non-profits help in supporting a certain percentage of this cost to ensure better quality of output.

CSR Support at Genesis Foundation

We are compliant with the new CSR Form-1 vide registration no CSR00001713 and meet all criteria laid out under Section 135 of Companies Act 2013. This makes us eligible as an implementation partner for CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). We have a range of CSR partners onboard, like- GE Healthcare, HDFC Ergo, George Clinical and SBI Life. With the help of our CSR partners, we have been able to support the medical treatment of more than 5,100 critically ill children. You can also look at the companies supporting us by giving corporate charity donations here- https://www.genesis-foundation.net/corporate-donors-and-grants.

Stories of Hope and Healing

Here is an example of a child, born with a hole in his heart, who underwent a successful surgery that was only possible because of the support of our CSR partnership.

16-year-old Jaipreet (name changed) had a large 35 mm hole in his heart. His family kept deferring treatment because they were worried about the large scar that comes with conventional open-heart surgery. Our partner hospital suggested the family about the endoscopic cardiac surgery which is a minimally invasive approach that uses tiny incisions and leaves no visible scar. However, the procedure is available only at a few centers in India, and the cost was beyond what the family could afford. This is where we, with the support of our CSR partner- ACRE, stepped in to cover the expenses. These corporate donations to charity by our CSR made it possible for Jaipreet to undergo such a lifesaving surgery.

How can Companies Support Genesis Foundation?

The corporate donors can engage with us in multiple ways and can contribute to our mission- Save Little Hearts. They can either make corporate charity donations to support the heart surgeries of the children, or the companies can engage in monthly employee giving programs like the Power of 100+. Power of 100+ is our payroll giving initiative, through which employees of a company voluntarily contribute INR 100 (or more) from their monthly salary to the Foundation. This helps in building a sustained flow of funds as a community for saving critically ill children. This initiative stems from our belief that no amount is too small when given with pure intent and towards a good cause. When 100 or more individuals even contribute Rs. 100, it helps generate a significant amount that can support critical heart treatments.

The Way Forward

Corporate partnerships have already changed the course of pediatric heart care in India, but thousands of children still await help. Children who given a chance at life, can dream and live happily ever after. By partnering with Genesis Foundation, you can also support the dreams of children with congenital heart defects. To find out more about our CSR partnerships write to us on contactus@genesis-foundation.net.