Why AIF
AIF Difference
Why associate with the American India Foundation? Why donate? Why volunteer? Why lead an AIF chapter?
In a word – VALUE
AIF is one of a small, but growing group of foundations that practice strategic philanthropy. Strategic philanthropy goes beyond charitable giving to focus on investing in the creation of social, economic and/or environmental value.
Value is created when initiatives or practices promoted by our NGO partners bolster economic prosperity, protect the environment, or improve the quality of life.
Like a venture capital firm AIF SELECTS partners through a rigorous due diligence process and uses clear performance metrics and milestones to evaluate investments and overall organizational performance.
We create additional value by focusing on capacity building and documentation of social outcomes, particularly at the policy level.
We apply the same value creation rigor to our fundraising and overhead costs as we do to our partner selection. We are cautious stewards of our funds and take seriously our work to accelerate value creation in India.
The COSTS of strategic philanthropy are more expensive, but the long-lasting value created is worth it. Costs such as an educated and professional staff, the use of modern technology, sound financial systems, and appropriate support and supervision of staff enable us to better add value to our beneficiaries.
Accountability and Transparency
We hold ourselves to high standards regarding our stewardship over the funds you donate.
We maintain the more rigorous international grant control standards required by the US of private foundations, even though, as a public foundation, we are not required to do so. This includes maintaining financial control over the grant funds we give.
Every grant and program spending decision is done by committee. Much like a VC firm, we have investment criteria we look for: strong leadership, sound financial controls, innovative products, scalability, and consumer demand/community involvement.
Once approved, committed funds are held in reserve. All our payments are conditional based on meeting milestones. In this way we also ensure the success of our investments.
We are just as rigorous with ourselves. We make investments in ourselves - personnel, equipment, technology, knowledge - so we can be more efficient, which helps us keep expenses low so more of your dollars are invested in products that make a difference.
We encourage you to take a look at our numbers over our first five years. Ask questions of management. Find out for yourselves that our sound fiscal and management controls are enabling more of your money to make a difference in India.