Where Does My Donation Go? Following a Rupee From Donor to Scholar

When you donate online, your money can feel like it disappears into a black box. At Kind Circle, we want you to see every step. Here is the journey of a single rupee – from the moment you click "Donate" to the moment it pays for a student's education.

Step 1: You give

You choose a circle – a scholarship run by a family, a company, an alumni group or a community – and donate online by net banking or card. Donors from abroad can give through the foundation's FCRA-compliant route or, for US tax benefits, through Pragati Foundation USA.

Your donation goes to Buddy4Study India Foundation, a registered non-profit under Sections 12A and 80G of the Income Tax Act, which runs Kind Circle. You receive an official receipt.

Step 2: It is credited to your circle

Your money is recorded against the circle you chose. It does not get mixed into a general pool. Each circle has its own balance, and its public page shows the total funds raised.

Step 3: A small share supports the work

Running scholarships well takes effort: reaching students, checking documents, interviewing families, making payments, issuing receipts, filing compliance reports and sending updates. A small share of each contribution supports this work. Most of every rupee goes to the scholar. Current plans and fees are listed openly on the pricing page.

Step 4: Deserving students are found and verified

Students apply through Buddy4Study's network of close to 4.5 million registered students, or are nominated by people who know them. Every application is checked against the scholarship's rules, and documents, family income and need are verified. Read more about how Kind Circle verifies students.

Step 5: The circle approves the scholars

Verified profiles go to the circle's lead, called the Karta, who makes the final choice. If you started the circle, that is you.

Step 6: The scholarship is paid

Funds are released directly to the student's bank account or to their school or college, depending on how the scholarship is designed. Some programmes, like the Kind Circle of HOPE, pay the institution directly, matched with a fee receipt.

Step 7: You can see it happen

Every circle page shows a live record of activity – donations received, students nominated and scholarships disbursed, with dates. Student names are partly hidden to protect their privacy, but every payment is visible.

Step 8: You hear how the student is doing

Through the year, circles receive updates on their scholars' progress. Many donors also receive thank-you notes, and some choose to meet their scholars at a felicitation or on a video call.

What if a student drops out?

If a scholar stops studying or becomes ineligible, the unused amount goes back to the circle's balance. The circle can then support a new scholar, increase support for an existing one, or carry the amount forward to the next year. Your money is never lost.

Why this matters

Trust is the foundation of giving. Kind Circle was built so that donors never have to wonder where their money went:

• One registered foundation, with official receipts for every donor
• Separate balances for each circle
• Verified students
• Direct payment to the student or institution
• A public record of every disbursal
• Regular updates on progress

See it for yourself

Open any circle – for example, the Mission 100 Crore Scholarship Fund Kind Circle or the NPCL Seedhi Scholarship Kind Circle – and scroll through its activity to see donations and disbursals as they happen.

A real example

Take a look at the activity on any active circle and you will see the journey in action: a donation recorded on one date, a student nominated on another, and a scholarship disbursed a few weeks later. For example, a family circle may receive gifts from relatives in India and abroad through the year. Once enough has been raised, verified students are presented to the family, the family approves two scholars, and their fees are paid directly to their colleges. The family then receives the scholars' progress updates and thank-you notes. Every step is recorded – nothing is hidden.

Frequently asked questions

Will I get a receipt?
Yes. Every donor receives an official receipt. Read about 80G tax benefits.

Can I choose whether money goes to the student or the institution?
Yes, when you start your own circle you decide this.

Can I ask for a detailed report?
Yes. Circle leads can request review calls, utilisation statements and custom reports.

Give with full visibility

Every rupee has a story. Make yours count – explore our circles or start your own scholarship. Questions? Write to kind@buddy4study.com.