Microfinance Focus, December 16, 2011: United States in collaboration with an Indian non-profit – GuideStar India – will be developing an online searchable database for Indian NGOs to ensure their accountability and transparency.

Speaking at American India Foundation Dinner, Robert O. Blake, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, said on Tuesday that India is home to about 1.5 million NGOs, but much of their work is not fully known in the United States and it is not easy to identify the NGOs credible enough to receive a donor’s money.

“By matching a list of certified Indian NGOs with potential American donors, we hope to create an efficient philanthropy marketplace that will grow the overall sector”, he said.

This site will also list all the intermediary institutions, including American Indian Foundation, who can facilitate tax-deductible donations, he said.