ABOUT US

What does Baal Dan mean?  [back to top]

In Hindi, Baal means Child. Dan means Donation.

Who started Baal Dan?  [back to top]

In 2005, Tanya Monalisa Pinto decided to take a sabbatical and work in an orphanage in India. Her grandfather was an orphan, and Tanya wanted to help children in need. Tanya's experience working at Mother Teresa's orphanage in Calcutta was life-changing and she wanted to do more to help children in India. She knew that if a child was provided with food and education, the cycle of poverty could be broken in just one generation. So, in early 2006, Tanya started Baal Dan - a charity committed to helping children in need in India.

Is Baal Dan tax exempt?  [back to top]

Yes, Baal Dan Charities is exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to Baal Dan Charities are deductible under section 170 of the Code. Baal Dan is classified as a public charity and qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers and gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code.

Why was Baal Dan formed?  [back to top]

In 2005, a friend gave Tanya Pinto $50 to buy the kids in the orphanage candy. Did you know that $1 = 43 rupees? When she got to India, she realized this was over 2000 rupees! After some bargaining at the local markets, here's what Tanya got with that $50:

300 pairs of children's underwear
100 notebooks
100 pencils
2 bags of candy

When Tanya emailed a friend and told him all the things she bought with his $50, and how in a small way he helped 300 children, he said, "If I had known how $50 could help so many children, I would have given you a lot more money."

That's why she started Baal Dan.

Who does Baal Dan help?  [back to top]

Click here to visit our "Who we help" page.

How do I know where my money is going?  [back to top]

After each bulk purchase made by Baal Dan in India, donors are notified of exactly what was purchased for the kids. This complete list is always available on the website in the trip results section. And because Baal Dan is a volunteer-based organization, administrative costs are minimized and in many cases are eliminated.

Does Baal Dan have a religious affiliation?  [back to top]

The creation of Baal Dan was inspired by Mother Teresa. That does not mean that this is an organization that holds any religious affiliation. I believe and respect that all paths lead to God. I also respect people who are agnostic or atheist. I am a spiritual person and I believe in Mother Teresa because she helped all people, all children, regardless of race, age, or country. When accused once of having an agenda of "converting" Hindus to Christians, she simply replied that this was not her mission, and that, "A Hindu must be a good Hindu. A Muslim must be a good Muslim, and a Christian must be a good Christian."

Baal Dan was created to help children who are hungry, homeless and in need of help no matter what religion they are or where they are from.

Where does Baal Dan make grants?  [back to top]

Baal Dan makes grants to existing, reputable non-governmental organizations (NGOs), schools, orphanages and charities in India - to support the best grassroots projects, no matter their size.

How does Baal Dan select projects?  [back to top]

Baal Dan has an exhaustive selection process in India, including multiple site visits and a review of financials and references. Baal Dan also requires substantial receipts and reporting from its projects. While over 100 projects have been personally audited in India in the last 4 years, only 10-15 projects received a Baal Dan grant. Reviews are also made annually and Baal Dan reserves the right to discontinue support of a project if standards are not met.

How is Baal Dan operated?  [back to top]

Baal Dan leverages volunteer resources for design, web, financial, and legal services as much as possible to keep the organization's overhead low and efficient. Trips to India to conduct site visits are subsidized through funds donated specifically for travel.

Is corruption an issue in India?  [back to top]

In any country there is corruption, especially when dealing with extreme poverty and destitution. Baal Dan tries to maintain exacting standards for the selection of our projects and the people we give grants to - all with the focus of getting aid as directly to the children as possible. By building strong and pure partnerships, Baal Dan seeks to avoid collaborations with disreputable organizations. That being said, Baal Dan does occasionally conduct un-announced audits on all of it's projects to confirm the project is reporting information correctly.

Why are all contributions to India?  [back to top]

The needs in India are great, and there are not very many charitable entities like Baal Dan in the US focused on raising money for street children and orphans in India compared to the number of charities focused on the African sub-continent. With staggering statistics like 18 million street kids, 25 million orphans and 40% of Indian children malnourished, we feel that India needs our help, focus and dedication.

What's next for Baal Dan?  [back to top]

Baal Dan is building its first school, in Turkahan, India. Upon its completion in February 2011, the school will serve 150 children from seven nearby villages in the rural area. Baal Dan's first school is a major milestone for an organization that started with a simple mission, to better the lives of poor, malnourished, and often overlooked street children in India. Baal Dan has big dreams for the future, including building another school, building an orphanage, and purchasing a bus to deliver basic needs items more quickly and to more areas in India.

If you would like more information on Baal Dan's bigger needs for investment, please contact us.