Refund Policy

Refund, Cancellation, CSR Contributions & Unauthorized Third-Party Arrangements Policy

Our policy on refund and cancellation of donations received for Dr.Abdul Kalam Trust for Educational & Greenery via a secure online payment gateway is as follows:

• The Trust is committed to maintaining transparency, accountability, proper authorization and responsible financial administration in relation to donations, CSR contributions, project-specific contributions and other charitable receipts. This Policy establishes the Trust’s procedures and principles concerning donation refunds, cancellations, erroneous or unauthorized transactions, CSR contributions, project-specific contributions, beneficiary-specific arrangements, third-party fundraising and the unauthorized use of the Trust’s name, identity, documents or financial information. This Policy should be read together with applicable laws, regulations, payment-processing requirements, contractual arrangements and specific project or CSR documentation, wherever applicable.

  1. General Donation Refund Policy:

  Donations made to the Trust through its authorized payment channels are generally treated as voluntary charitable contributions and, once successfully processed, are ordinarily non-refundable. Donors are therefore requested to carefully verify the donation amount, payment details and intended purpose before completing a transaction. A request for cancellation or refund after a donation has been successfully processed will generally not be accepted except where the circumstances warrant review under this Policy, applicable law, payment-gateway procedures or other applicable requirements.

  2. Cancellation of Donations:

  A donation cannot ordinarily be cancelled after the payment has been successfully completed and the transaction has been accepted through the applicable payment channel. The Trust may, however, review a cancellation request where there is credible evidence of: • An unauthorized transaction • Fraudulent activity • Duplicate payment • Technical or processing error • Incorrect transaction resulting from a payment-system issue or • Another circumstance requiring correction under applicable law or payment-processing requirements. Any such review shall be subject to appropriate verification.

  3. Fraudulent or Unauthorized Transactions:

  Where a donor believes that a transaction was made without authorization, through fraud, by mistake or through misuse of payment credentials, the transaction may be reviewed by the Trust. The Trust may require appropriate supporting evidence and may verify the transaction with the relevant payment gateway, financial institution, donor or other concerned party before determining the appropriate course of action. A refund or reversal shall not be automatic merely because a transaction has been reported as disputed.

  4. Duplicate or Erroneous Transactions:

  Where a donor believes that a payment has been duplicated or that an incorrect amount has been processed, the Trust may review the transaction upon receipt of sufficient transaction information and supporting documentation. The Trust may verify the relevant payment records before determining whether any correction, adjustment, refund or reversal is appropriate.

  5.CSR Contributions Policy:

  The Trust accepts CSR contributions only through officially approved and appropriately documented arrangements with eligible corporate entities and in accordance with applicable CSR laws, rules, regulations and requirements. All CSR proposals, project approvals, agreements, communications, payment arrangements and related financial matters involving the Trust must be made through persons duly authorized by the Trust. No CSR proposal, project, beneficiary or financial arrangement shall be considered officially approved merely because an individual or third party claims to have obtained approval from the Trust.

  6. Prior Written Authorization:

  No individual, intermediary, consultant, volunteer, beneficiary, donor, employee, representative or other third party is authorized to act on behalf of the Trust in relation to CSR fundraising or financial arrangements unless such authority has been expressly granted in writing by the duly authorized representatives of the Trust. Without such written authorization, no person may: • Represent the Trust for CSR fundraising • Solicit or request CSR funds in the Trust’s name • Negotiate CSR contributions on behalf of the Trust • Enter into a CSR arrangement on behalf of the Trust • Provide or circulate the Trust’s financial information for a specific CSR project or beneficiary • Issue commitments, assurances, guarantees or undertakings on behalf of the Trust • Approve or promise a particular project or beneficiary • Collect CSR funds claiming to represent the Trust or • Otherwise create an obligation or commitment purportedly on behalf of the Trust.

  7. Direct Verification by Companies:

  Companies intending to support the Trust through CSR should independently verify all proposals, projects, payment instructions and representations directly with the Trust’s duly authorized representatives. A company should not rely solely upon information, instructions, proposals, documents or representations provided by an unauthorized intermediary or third party claiming to act for or on behalf of the Trust. The Trust shall not be responsible for commitments, representations or arrangements independently made by persons who have not received written authorization from the Trust.

  8. Use of Trust Name and Organizational Information:

  The Trust’s name, logo, registration information, statutory information, documents, certificates, website content, financial information, bank details or other organizational information must not be used by any third party for CSR fundraising, solicitation, collection of funds, project promotion or financial arrangements without prior written authorization. Public availability of any Trust information does not constitute permission or authorization to use such information for third-party fundraising or CSR arrangements.

  9. Unauthorized Third-Party Fundraising:

  A person shall not be treated as an authorized representative of the Trust merely because that person: • Knows a beneficiary • Has a personal or professional relationship with Trust personnel • Has previously supported or worked with the Trust • Has participated in Trust activities • Possesses publicly available information about the Trust • Has communicated with a company using the Trust’s name• Has previously facilitated a donation or • Possesses or has shared the Trust’s publicly available financial information. Authority to represent the Trust in relation to CSR or fundraising matters exists only where such authority has been expressly granted in writing by the duly authorized representatives of the Trust.

  10.Beneficiary & Project-Specific Contributions:

  Where a contribution is intended for a particular student, beneficiary, institution, project or charitable purpose, the proposed purpose must be clearly communicated to and accepted by the Trust through its authorized representatives. Where necessary, the Trust may require supporting documentation relating to the beneficiary, project, purpose, eligibility and proposed utilization of the contribution. An unauthorized third party cannot create a beneficiary-specific financial commitment or arrangement on behalf of the Trust. The Trust shall not be responsible for any beneficiary-specific arrangement independently made by an unauthorized person without the Trust’s prior knowledge, approval or written authorization.

  11. Project-Specific CSR Contributions:

  A company or donor intending to make a contribution for a specific project should obtain appropriate confirmation regarding the identity, purpose and status of the project before making the contribution. Project-specific arrangements may be subject to separate documentation, approval, agreement or MoU, where applicable. A project shall not be considered officially approved solely because a third party has circulated a proposal, quotation, document, payment instruction or other communication using the Trust’s name.

  12.Bank Transactions & Financial Verification:

  The Trust may receive donations, CSR contributions, grants and other charitable receipts through its financial accounts. Where a bank credit is received without sufficient information identifying the source, purpose, donor, contributing company, project or beneficiary, the Trust may seek clarification and supporting documentation before determining the appropriate accounting treatment or utilization of the amount. The Trust may require information such as: • Transaction date • Transaction amount • UTR or transaction reference • Donor or company identification • Purpose of payment • Project reference • Beneficiary information, where applicable; and • Supporting authorization or project documentation.

  13. No Automatic Authority from Bank Credit:

  The mere credit of an amount into a Trust bank account does not by itself establish that: • The Trust requested the contribution • The Trust authorized the person who arranged the payment • The Trust approved the project or beneficiary • The Trust authorized a third-party representative • The Trust accepted a particular fundraising arrangement or • Any person is automatically entitled to receive a refund or reversal. The circumstances, source, purpose and authorization relating to a disputed or unidentified transaction may be subject to verification.

  14. Verification of CSR Transactions:

  The Trust may request a contributing company, donor or other concerned party to provide documentation relating to a CSR contribution or project-specific payment. Such documentation may include: • CSR proposal • Project approval • Company authorization • Payment records • UTR or transaction reference • Beneficiary details • Implementing-agency details • Agreement or MoU • Relevant correspondence • Details of the person who initiated or arranged the contribution; and • Any other documentation reasonably required for verification. Verification may be undertaken to ensure proper accounting, transparency, regulatory compliance, appropriate utilization and protection of the interests of all concerned parties.

  15.Unauthorized Arrangements & Misuse:

  If the Trust becomes aware that its name, identity, documents, registration information, website information, financial information or other organizational details have been used by an unauthorized person for CSR fundraising or other financial arrangements, the Trust may investigate the matter and seek appropriate documentary evidence. Where considered necessary, the Trust may take appropriate corrective, administrative or legal action and may communicate the matter to relevant companies, donors, beneficiaries, financial institutions or competent authorities.

  16. Unauthorized Commitments and Representations:

  Any promise, assurance, financial commitment, project commitment, beneficiary commitment, payment instruction or other representation made by a person without proper authorization shall not automatically constitute an obligation of the Trust. The Trust reserves the right to independently verify such representations and determine whether they were authorized, approved or accepted by the Trust.

  17. Verification of Third-Party Authority:

  Companies, donors, beneficiaries and other parties dealing with a person claiming to represent the Trust are responsible for taking reasonable steps to verify that person’s authority before relying upon any representation, proposal, payment instruction or commitment. The Trust recommends direct verification before: • Transferring CSR funds • Making a project-specific contribution • Accepting beneficiary-specific payment instructions • Relying on a CSR proposal • Entering into a project arrangement • Requesting a refund or • Accepting any commitment purportedly made on behalf of the Trust.

  18.Refunds, Reversals & Disputed CSR Transactions:

  The general donation refund provisions of this Policy apply to ordinary charitable contributions to the extent applicable. CSR contributions, project-specific contributions, erroneous transfers, duplicate payments, unauthorized transactions, disputed transactions and amounts subject to legal, regulatory or contractual requirements may require separate verification. No refund or reversal of a CSR-related amount shall be processed solely on the basis of a verbal request, informal communication or request made by an unauthorized third party. Any request relating to a CSR contribution shall be subject to appropriate documentary verification and, where applicable, direct confirmation from the contributing company or other relevant party. The Trust reserves the right to determine the appropriate course of action after reviewing the relevant transaction records, documents, agreements, communications and applicable legal or regulatory requirements.

  19. Refund Requests by Unauthorized Third Parties:

  A person who independently solicited, arranged or facilitated a contribution without written authorization from the Trust shall not automatically acquire authority to request cancellation, reversal or refund of that contribution on behalf of the Trust, donor, company or beneficiary. Where necessary, the Trust may require the original contributing entity or its duly authorized representative to communicate directly with the Trust.

  20. Fraud, Misrepresentation and Disputed Transactions:

  Where a contribution is associated with suspected fraud, unauthorized representation, misrepresentation, misuse of the Trust’s identity, disputed ownership or other irregularity, the Trust may defer any refund or reversal decision until the relevant circumstances have been verified. The Trust may communicate with the concerned donor, company, beneficiary, payment service provider, financial institution or competent authority as considered appropriate.

  21.General Provisions:

  Submission of a refund, cancellation or reversal request does not create an automatic right to receive a refund. Each request may be considered on its individual circumstances, transaction records, supporting evidence, applicable agreements and legal or regulatory requirements.No Guarantee of Refund.

  22. Documentary Evidence:

  The Trust may require sufficient documentary evidence before processing or deciding any request relating to refund, cancellation, reversal, disputed payment, fraudulent transaction, CSR contribution, beneficiary-specific contribution, project-specific contribution or unauthorized third-party arrangement. Failure to provide sufficient information may delay the review or prevent the Trust from determining the appropriate action.

  23. Compliance with Applicable Law:

  Nothing contained in this Policy shall be interpreted as overriding or limiting any mandatory requirement imposed by applicable law, regulation, statutory authority, payment service provider, contractual obligation or competent authority. Where a specific law, regulation, valid agreement or statutory requirement applies to a transaction, the Trust shall consider the applicable requirement while determining the appropriate course of action.

  24. Policy Amendments:

  The Trust reserves the right to amend, update, revise or supplement this Policy from time to time in accordance with changes in applicable laws, regulations, regulatory requirements, payment-processing practices and the Trust’s operational procedures. The latest version published by the Trust shall supersede previous versions, subject to applicable legal and contractual requirements.

  25. Final Notice:

  All donors, companies, beneficiaries, volunteers, representatives, intermediaries and other persons dealing with the Trust are advised to ensure that financial contributions, CSR arrangements, project-specific contributions and related communications are made through properly authorized channels. The Trust does not recognize unauthorized third-party commitments, fundraising arrangements or representations merely because the person involved possesses information concerning the Trust or has previously interacted with the Trust. For the protection of donors, companies, beneficiaries and the Trust itself, all significant CSR, project-specific and financial arrangements should be appropriately documented and independently verified. This Policy is intended to establish transparent administrative and financial procedures relating to donations, refunds, CSR contributions and third-party arrangements. It should be interpreted together with applicable laws, regulations, contractual obligations and specific project documentation, wherever applicable.
  Please note: Donations are generally non-refundable once successfully processed. If you believe your donation was made in error, duplicated, without authorization, or is associated with fraud or a payment-processing issue, please contact us promptly at info@drabdulkalamtrust.org with your transaction details. Any refund, reversal or correction request will be subject to verification and applicable laws, regulations and payment-processing requirements. .