Frequently Asked Questions
What is the belief behind World Culture and Environment Protection Commission?
We believe that unless members of the civil society are involved proactively in the process of development, sustainable change will not happen. Believing in this principle of ‘Civic Driven Change’ World Culture and Environment Protection Commission sensitises the civil society in order to make them partners in its mission.
Does World Culture and Environment Protection Commission work in India or other countries too?
World Culture and Environment Protection Commission is a national level development organization with its welfare projects spread across India.
What is the scenario in India, presently?
India has about 11 million children living on the streets and 14 million children working as labours. Only 60% of children have access to education despite having a national policy on compulsory elementary education. The time to take collective as well as individual responsibility to remedy the current situation is here. Right now!
How old is World Culture and Environment Protection Commission?
World Culture and Environment Protection Commission was established in the year 2023
What is the mission of World Culture and Environment Protection Commission?
World Culture and Environment Protection Commission’s mission is to empower underprivileged children, youth and their families and community through relevant education, innovative healthcare and market-focused livelihood programmes. We aim to deploy best possible methodology and technology for achieving ideal SROI (social return on investment), to practice and promote good governance, to link business competitiveness of the corporate with social development initiatives and to sensitize the privileged section of society to promote Civic Driven Change.
Who are the people behind World Culture and Environment Protection Commission?
The realization of a group of young corporate professionals, that it was their Social Responsibility to give back to the society, laid the inception of World Culture and Environment Protection Commission. World Culture and Environment Protection Commission is managed professionally by a Board of Advisors, comprising individuals from diverse backgrounds and expertise, followed by an Executive Committee and a well-defined professional workforce.
Which areas does World Culture and Environment Protection Commission work in?
World Culture and Environment Protection Commission has been working in the thematic areas of education, healthcare, youth employability and empowerment of women and girls
Why do you stress on education, when there are other equally pressing issues in the country?
Education alone has the power to liberate people from the vicious cycle of poverty – not only in terms of earning a livelihood but also in becoming aware of the rights and freedoms that a citizen is endowed with. Thus empowering individuals and making them self-sufficient.
What is the working model of World Culture and Environment Protection Commission?
World Culture and Environment Protection Commission works under two models, namely Social Venture Philanthropy (SVP) and Outreach.
What is Social Venture Philanthropy model?
SVP: Social Venture Philanthropy (SVP) is an innovative model based on the business concept of venture capital. Under SVP, World Culture and Environment Protection Commission identifies, handholds and builds capacities of genuine grassroots NGOs. WCAEPC focuses on achieving scalability and sustainability, creating a culture of leadership and excellence and inculcating a deep sense of accountability among its partners.
What is the Outreach model?
While working in the remote rural areas, Smile Foundation realized that capacities of community based organisations (CBOs) were not adequate to meet expectations of social investors. Under outreach model, World Culture and Environment Protection Commission implements the development
World Culture and Environment Protection Commission gets a first-hand experience on the nuances of development at the grassroots through its Outreach model and then shares the same with partner organisations.
interventions directly as it requires intensive and professional engagement for a wider and sustained outcome.
What is the Lifecycle Approach of World Culture and Environment Protection Commission?
In our hands-on experience, we have come to understand that child education is inseparable from the well-being of the entire family. Health, a crucial part of education, can directly impact a child’s attendance and parental support. Our programs, spanning livelihood, health, and women empowerment, organically complement our education initiative, adopting a holistic lifecycle approach. While children and education remain central, our broader focus ensures the well-rounded welfare of both children and their families.
What is the source of funding for the organization?
Around 70-80% funding support of the organization comes from corporates; the rest comes from PSUs, individual donors and private institutions.
What is the mission of World Culture and Environment Protection Commission?
World Culture and Environment Protection Commission’s mission is to empower underprivileged children, youth and their families and community through relevant education, innovative healthcare and market-focused livelihood programmes. We aim to deploy best possible methodology and technology for achieving ideal SROI (social return on investment), to practice and promote good governance, to link business competitiveness of the corporate with social development initiatives and to sensitize the privileged section of society to promote Civic Driven Change.
How can an NGO apply for assistance?
There is a user friendly application form available on our website that an NGO can fill. Apart from that we put notices in all our internal modes of communication like our website, mailers, etc. whenever there is a requirement for a partner in any particular geographical area under our various programmes.
How does WCAEPC choose the projects / grassroots NGOs to work with?
World Culture and Environment Protection Commission looks for emerging and committed grassroots organizations for reaching out to underprivileged communities. We partner with people and organizations that want to make a difference but do not have adequate knowledge and capacity to raise resources or work in a professional manner.
World Culture and Environment Protection Commission looks for emerging and committed grassroots organizations for reaching out to underprivileged communities. We partner with people and organizations that want to make a difference but do not have adequate knowledge and capacity to raise resources or work in a professional manner.
FAQ's For Individual Donors
What information is sent to the donors?
The donor gets an instant acknowledgement mail along with an SMS. On receiving the reconciliation statement from the bank, a receipt is sent via e-mail immediately, followed by a hard copy by post (within India). The receipt is accompanied by a ‘welcome pack’ which is also a token of appreciation. The donor receives a birthday wish, wishes on important festivals, programme updates and an annual impact report during a year’s time.
What will Smile do with my donation?
As soon as the donation through cheque or online is reconciled by the bank, the amount is allotted to the specific programme, which it has been meant for. The utilization and results are managed, monitored and audited. The outcome is reflected in the annual impact report, which is shared with the donors.
How does Smile Foundation ensure that the donor's contribution is being utilized in the intended way?
Smile Foundation follows the principle of good governance. We have a four-tier audit mechanism to track and monitor the funds raised and utilized. More details of the process are mentioned at https://wcaepc.org/new-about-us/
Does WCAEPC accept donations in USD or Pounds?
Yes, the organization accepts donations in USD and pounds as well but only in the form of cheque, drafts or via online payment gateway. As a policy the organization adhere to all government norms and maintains optimum transparency with the donors. The organization does have an FCRA account for its internationals supporters. However tax exemptions are applicable as per the country specific guidelines.
How much should I donate? (we can give break up of monthly expenditure of a child)
There is no specific amount that should be donated. However all the programmes have a detailed breakup of the expenditure displayed online.
Is the website safe to make online payments?
Yes, the website is safe for any kind of transaction. Also, any information exchange is kept safe and in no condition gets disclosed. Also the payment gateway is a third-party payment gateway recognized by the financial institutions under the government of India. So any transaction also is thoroughly secured.
What is the process of keeping the donors? information safe?
As a credible organization, we honour the privacy of our donors. The donor data is not exposed or shared with any external agency under any circumstances. We have a robust in-house mechanism and server system where the records are kept safe. The entire setup is protected with password and is guarded by surveillance software. The data is kept strictly confidential and only authorized staff with a special non-disclosure bond have access to it.
What are the Tax benefits that a donor will get?
A donor will get 50% of tax exemption on the donation under section 80 G of Income Tax Act, 1961.
Do you issue Tax receipts? How soon will the receipts arrive?
Yes, tax receipts are issued to all the donors irrespective of the amount supported. A digital copy of the receipt is generated on and sent via e-mail post realization of the donated amount. The hard copy of the receipt is delivered to the donor within 10 working days.
What happens if the tax receipt is lost?
In case of loss of the original receipt, a duplicate tax receipt is issued on receipt of a formal request from the donor.
Can one donate in kind (old clothes, books, stationary etc)?
Usually, in-kind donation is accepted only when there is a need in any of the projects at a given point of time.
Is it possible for a consistent supporter to meet the beneficiary personally?
While you can visit the school where the children you support are studying, we do not encourage donors to directly meet the beneficiaries as we do not want to give special treatment to any child.