Finance and Institutional - Legal & Policies

DONATION & FUNDRAISING POLICY

StratVision Forum (SVF)
Last Updated: 21/09/2026

1. Introduction

StratVision Forum (SVF) may receive financial and other forms of support to advance its research, educational, strategic, civic and institutional activities.

Support may enable SVF to undertake research projects, organise conferences and seminars, provide educational and research opportunities, support publications, conduct community and civic-development initiatives, develop digital programmes and meet legitimate organisational and administrative requirements.

SVF is committed to handling donations and fundraising activities responsibly, transparently and in accordance with applicable laws and its institutional objectives.

This Donation & Fundraising Policy explains the principles that guide SVF's fundraising activities and the acceptance, use and administration of donations.

2. Purpose of the Policy

The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that:

Donations are accepted responsibly
Funds are used for legitimate SVF purposes
Donors are treated fairly and respectfully
Fundraising activities are conducted honestly
Donor restrictions are properly recorded and respected
Financial and institutional independence are protected
Potential conflicts of interest are identified
Appropriate records are maintained; and
SVF complies with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

3. Sources of Support

Subject to applicable law and SVF's organisational structure, SVF may receive support from sources such as:

Individual donors
Academic and educational institutions
Foundations
Philanthropic organisations
Corporations and businesses
Research institutions
Non-governmental organisations
International organisations
Government or public institutions where permitted
Institutional partners
Members and supporters; and
Other lawful sources.

SVF will consider the nature and source of support before accepting it.

4. Forms of Support

Support may include:

Monetary donations
Grants
Research funding
Programme sponsorship
Institutional support
In-kind contributions
Equipment or resources
Venue support
Professional services; and
Other forms of lawful assistance.

Where a contribution involves conditions or specific obligations, SVF may document those conditions before accepting the contribution.

5. Principles of Fundraising

SVF's fundraising activities should be based on:

Honesty: Information provided to potential donors should be accurate and should not deliberately create a misleading impression.

Transparency: Donors should receive appropriate information about the purpose for which their support is requested.

Accountability: Funds should be used responsibly and recorded appropriately.

Independence: Financial support should not improperly influence SVF's research, editorial decisions, institutional positions or programme activities.

Respect: Donors should be treated professionally and their reasonable privacy expectations should be respected.

6. Purpose of Donations

Donations may be used to support legitimate SVF activities, including:

Research projects
Research publications
Policy briefs and reports
Conferences and seminars
Workshops and training
Fellowships
Internships
Educational initiatives
Civic-development programmes
Digital diplomacy initiatives
Outreach and public engagement
Research infrastructure
Technology and digital resources
Institutional development; and
Reasonable administrative and operational expenses.

Where a donation is given for a specific purpose, SVF will seek to use it consistently with the agreed purpose.

7. Unrestricted Donations

An unrestricted donation is a contribution that does not specify a particular project or activity.

SVF may use unrestricted donations for legitimate organisational purposes according to its priorities and needs.

Unrestricted support provides SVF with flexibility to respond to emerging research, educational, civic or institutional requirements.

8. Restricted Donations

A donor may request that a contribution be used for a specific project or purpose.

SVF will consider whether it is able to accept such restrictions before accepting the donation.

Where SVF accepts a restricted donation, the relevant restriction should be recorded clearly.

SVF may decline a restricted donation where:

The proposed purpose is inconsistent with SVF's objectives
The restriction creates unreasonable administrative difficulties
The proposed activity cannot lawfully be undertaken
The funds could compromise institutional independence; or
The conditions are otherwise unsuitable.

9. Donor Influence and Institutional Independence

Financial support must not give a donor inappropriate control over SVF's research findings, editorial decisions, academic conclusions or institutional activities.

A donor may support a research project or programme without having the right to determine its findings.

Where appropriate, funding arrangements may clearly state that research conclusions and editorial decisions remain independent.

10. Sponsorship

SVF may accept sponsorship for appropriate events, programmes, publications or institutional activities.

Sponsorship arrangements should be clearly understood by both parties.

Sponsorship should not be presented in a manner that falsely suggests that SVF endorses a sponsor's products, political positions, commercial interests or other activities.

11. Research Funding

SVF may receive funding for specific research projects.

Research funding arrangements should, where appropriate, establish:

The purpose of the research
The scope of the project
Funding arrangements
Expected outputs
Relevant reporting requirements
Treatment of research findings; and
Responsibilities of the parties.

Research funding should not require SVF researchers to produce predetermined findings.

Research integrity will remain subject to SVF's Research Ethics Policy and applicable research standards.

12. Prohibited or Inappropriate Donations

SVF may refuse or return a donation where there is a reasonable concern that accepting it would:

Violate applicable law
Support unlawful activity
Create a serious reputational risk
Undermine SVF's independence
Create an unacceptable conflict of interest
Impose inappropriate conditions
Create unreasonable legal or administrative obligations
Involve fraudulent or deceptive activity; or
Otherwise conflict with SVF's objectives or values.

SVF is not required to accept every offer of financial support.

13. Donations from Organisations

Before accepting substantial support from an organisation, SVF may consider relevant information about the organisation and the proposed purpose of the contribution.

The purpose of such consideration is to ensure that the proposed relationship is compatible with SVF's objectives and institutional independence.

This does not mean that SVF endorses every activity or position of an organisation that provides lawful support.

14. Government and Public Funding

Where SVF receives support from a government or public institution, the funding will be managed according to the applicable terms and legal requirements.

Such support should not improperly influence SVF's research or institutional independence.

15. Foreign Contributions

SVF will comply with applicable Indian laws and regulatory requirements concerning contributions received from outside India.

SVF will not accept or use foreign contributions unless it is legally eligible and authorised to do so.

Where specific regulatory approval, registration, reporting or compliance requirements apply, SVF will follow those requirements before accepting or using the relevant funds.

16. Fundraising Communications

Fundraising materials should accurately explain:

Who SVF is

16A. Fundraising and Data-Collection Notices

Where SVF collects personal data through an online donation form, fundraising campaign, event, sponsorship process or other fundraising channel, the relevant notice should identify the personal data requested, the purpose of collection, any third-party payment or service provider involved where appropriate, and the available privacy and grievance mechanisms.

Why funds are being requested
The intended purpose of the fundraising
Any relevant conditions; and
How potential supporters can contribute.

SVF should not knowingly make false or misleading claims about its activities, achievements, financial requirements or expected impact.

17. Use of SVF's Name and Identity

SVF's name, logo and institutional identity may not be used by another person or organisation to conduct an unauthorised fundraising campaign.

Individuals or organisations wishing to raise funds on behalf of SVF must receive appropriate authorisation.

18. Third-Party Fundraising

No person should represent that they are collecting donations on behalf of SVF without prior authorisation.

Where SVF authorises a third party to conduct fundraising activities, the relationship and responsibilities should be clearly established.

19. Donor Information

SVF may maintain records containing personal information necessary to administer donations, issue receipts, process payments, communicate with donors, satisfy accounting and legal requirements, and maintain appropriate financial records.

Donor information should be handled responsibly and only for authorised purposes. Where donors request anonymity and applicable legal or reporting requirements permit it, SVF will respect that request. Personal data relating to donors will be handled in accordance with the SVF Privacy Policy and Data Protection Policy and applicable requirements under the DPDP Act and Rules.

Where public recognition involves publishing a donor's name, photograph, biography, contact information or other personal data, SVF will consider the donor's stated preference and applicable privacy requirements. Public recognition should not include unnecessary personal information.

20. Donor Recognition

SVF may acknowledge donors publicly where appropriate.

20A. Donor Personal Data and Data Protection

SVF will collect and use donor personal data only to the extent reasonably necessary for donation administration, payment processing, donor communication, acknowledgement, accounting, regulatory reporting, audit, fraud prevention, legal compliance and other specified organisational purposes. Where a payment processor, banking service, fundraising platform or other provider handles donor personal data on SVF's behalf, SVF will take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate safeguards and limited use.

Donors may exercise applicable privacy rights through the Data Protection Contact identified in the SVF Privacy Policy. Requests may be subject to reasonable identity verification and lawful retention requirements. Financial and regulatory records will be retained for as long as required or permitted by applicable law.

Recognition may include:

Listing the donor's name
Acknowledging institutional support
Including a donor acknowledgement in a publication; or
Other appropriate recognition.

SVF will consider a donor's preference regarding public acknowledgement where reasonably practicable.

A donor's contribution does not automatically create a right to public recognition.

21. Anonymous Donations

SVF may accept anonymous donations where permitted by applicable law and where sufficient information is available to ensure that accepting the donation is appropriate.

SVF may decline an anonymous contribution where the lack of donor information creates legal, financial or institutional concerns.

22. Donation Records

SVF will maintain appropriate records of donations and fundraising activities.

Records may include:

Donor information where legally required
Amount or value of the contribution
Date received
Purpose of the contribution
Relevant restrictions
Acknowledgement or receipt; and
Other information required for financial or regulatory purposes.

23. Receipts and Acknowledgements

Where appropriate, SVF may issue a written acknowledgement or receipt for a donation.

Any tax-related documentation or benefit will be provided only where SVF is legally authorised to provide it.

Donors should not assume that every contribution is automatically eligible for a tax benefit.

24. Use of Funds

SVF will seek to use donated funds for the purpose for which they were accepted.

Funds may be allocated across legitimate expenses associated with a project, including reasonable administrative and operational costs where permitted by the relevant funding arrangement.

SVF will maintain appropriate financial records of its use of funds.

25. Unused or Excess Funds

A project may sometimes receive more funds than are ultimately required, or circumstances may change after a donation has been accepted.

Where a donation is unrestricted, SVF may use remaining funds for another legitimate organisational purpose.

Where a donation is restricted, SVF will consider the donor's stated restriction and applicable agreement before reallocating the funds.

Where appropriate, SVF may contact the donor to discuss an alternative use.

26. Donation Refunds

Donations are generally intended to support SVF's activities and may not automatically be refundable.

However, SVF may consider a refund where:

A donation was made in error
A duplicate payment occurred
A payment was unauthorised
The donation cannot legally be accepted; or
Other exceptional circumstances justify a refund.

Refund requests should be submitted promptly with relevant payment information.

SVF may require reasonable verification before processing a refund.

27. Conflicts of Interest

Fundraising and donation decisions should be made without improper personal benefit.

Individuals involved in fundraising should disclose relevant conflicts of interest in accordance with the SVF Conflict of Interest Policy.

A person should not use their position at SVF to obtain an improper personal benefit from a donation or fundraising relationship.

28. Financial Accountability

SVF will seek to maintain appropriate financial records and internal controls relating to donations and fundraising activities.

Financial management should support:

Accurate record-keeping
Appropriate authorisation of expenditure
Responsible use of funds
Compliance with applicable requirements; and
Appropriate reporting.

29. Transparency

SVF recognises the importance of public trust in fundraising.

Where appropriate and legally permissible, SVF may provide information about:

Major programmes supported through donations
Institutional fundraising activities
General use of funds; and
Relevant financial or impact information.

The level of public disclosure may depend on legal, contractual, privacy and operational considerations.

30. Fundraising Events

SVF may conduct fundraising through:

Events
Campaigns
Online platforms
Institutional appeals
Sponsorship programmes
Grant applications; and
Other lawful fundraising methods.

Fundraising events should be conducted honestly and in accordance with applicable requirements.

31. No Guarantee of Outcomes

Where a donation supports a specific programme or project, SVF will make reasonable efforts to use the funds for the intended purpose.

However, research, policy, educational and civic-development projects can involve uncertainty.

SVF cannot guarantee particular research finding, policy outcome, programme result or social impact unless expressly agreed otherwise.

32. Contact

Questions concerning donations, fundraising or financial support may be directed to:

StratVision Forum (SVF)
Email: info@stratvisionforum.org.in

33. Policy Review

SVF may periodically review this Policy to reflect changes in its fundraising activities, organisational structure, financial practices and applicable legal requirements.

The latest version will be published on the SVF website.