Mahima Ministries
Refund & Cancellation Policy
Donation Policy

Refund & Cancellation Policy

Understanding our refund process for donations

Last Updated: January 2025

Important: Donations are Generally Non-Refundable

As per Indian NGO regulations and Income Tax Act guidelines, donations to registered charitable organizations like Mahima Ministries are voluntary contributions and are generally non-refundable. However, we understand that mistakes can happen, and we have established this policy to address specific circumstances.

7 Days Window

Refund requests must be made within 7 days of donation

Documentation Required

Transaction proof and valid reason needed for processing

7-10 Days Processing

Approved refunds processed within 7-10 business days

1. When Refunds May Be Processed

Refunds will only be considered in the following exceptional circumstances:

1.1 Technical Errors

  • Duplicate transactions due to payment gateway errors
  • Amount debited from your account but donation not recorded in our system
  • Incorrect amount charged due to system malfunction

1.2 Unauthorized Transactions

  • Fraudulent transaction made without your knowledge or consent
  • Transaction made by a minor without parental/guardian consent

Note: Police report or written affidavit may be required for fraud claims.

1.3 Donor Error

  • Donation made to wrong organization by mistake (within 48 hours)
  • Significant amount entered by error (e.g., ₹10,000 instead of ₹1,000)

Note: Refunds for donor error are processed at the organization's discretion.

2. Non-Refundable Circumstances

Refunds will NOT be processed in the following cases:

  • Change of Mind: Donor decides they no longer want to support the cause after making a donation
  • Personal Financial Situation: Donor experiences financial difficulties after making donation
  • Disagreement with Organization: Donor disagrees with how funds are being used (within legal charitable purposes)
  • Tax Planning: Donor wants refund due to tax planning considerations
  • Recurring Donations: Refunds for past recurring donations (cancellation applies only to future donations)
  • Designated Donations: Donations made for specific programs that have already been utilized
  • After 7 Days: Any refund request made more than 7 days after the transaction date

3. How to Request a Refund

Step 1: Contact Us Within 7 Days

Email us at mahimaministriesindia@gmail.com with subject line: "REFUND REQUEST - [Your Name]"

Step 2: Provide Required Information

  • Full name and contact details
  • Transaction date and amount
  • Transaction ID / Reference Number
  • Payment method used
  • Screenshot of transaction receipt
  • Detailed reason for refund request
  • Supporting documents (if applicable)

Step 3: Review Process

Our finance team will review your request within 3-5 business days and notify you of the decision via email.

Step 4: Refund Processing

If approved, the refund will be processed to your original payment method within 7-10 business days. Bank processing times may vary.

4. Cancellation of Recurring Donations

4.1 How to Cancel: Recurring donations can be cancelled at any time by:

4.2 Processing Time: Cancellation requests are processed within 48 hours. However, if a donation is already in process, it cannot be stopped.

4.3 No Retroactive Cancellations: Past recurring donations cannot be refunded once processed. Only future scheduled donations will be cancelled.

5. Failed or Pending Transactions

5.1 Payment Failed: If your payment fails but amount is debited, please wait 5-7 business days. Most banks automatically reverse failed transactions.

5.2 Still Not Reversed? If the amount is not reversed within 7 days, contact us with transaction details, and we will coordinate with the payment gateway.

5.3 Payment Pending: For transactions showing "pending" status, please wait 24-48 hours before contacting us. Most resolve automatically.

6. Tax Implications of Refunds

6.1 80G Certificate: If you have already received an 80G tax exemption certificate for the refunded donation, it will be invalidated.

6.2 Tax Filing: Donors who have claimed tax deductions on refunded donations must inform the Income Tax Department and amend their tax returns accordingly.

6.3 Organization's Obligation: We are required to report all refunded donations to tax authorities as per Income Tax Act regulations.

7. Processing Fees & Charges

7.1 Payment Gateway Charges: Payment gateway charges (typically 2-3%) are non-refundable and will be deducted from the refund amount.

7.2 Bank Charges: Any bank transfer fees or charges incurred during the refund process will be borne by the donor.

7.3 Currency Conversion: For foreign currency donations, refunds will be processed in INR at current exchange rates. Any loss due to currency fluctuation will be borne by the donor.

8. Partial Refunds

In certain cases, we may offer a partial refund:

  • If funds have been partially utilized for the designated program
  • If the request is made after the 7-day window but within 15 days
  • If there are exceptional circumstances warranting partial consideration

Partial refund decisions are made on a case-by-case basis by our management team.

9. Dispute Resolution

If your refund request is denied and you wish to dispute the decision:

  1. Reply to the refund decision email with additional information or clarification
  2. Request escalation to our management team for review
  3. If still unsatisfied, file a formal complaint through our Grievance Redressal mechanism

We are committed to fair and transparent resolution of all disputes.

10. Alternatives to Refunds

If you are not eligible for a refund but have concerns about your donation, we offer:

  • Donation Reallocation: Transfer your donation to a different program or project
  • Future Credit: Apply the amount as credit toward a future donation (within 1 year)
  • Sponsorship Transfer: Transfer child/project sponsorship to another individual

11. Contact for Refund Queries

For all refund-related queries:

Finance Department - Mahima Ministries

Email: mahimaministriesindia@gmail.com

Phone: 040-65553348 / 9246272675

Office Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM IST

Address: 2-38/8/2/9/4/1, NTR Nagar Colony, Chandanagar, Ameenpur, Sangareddy, Telangana - 502032

Your Generosity Makes a Difference

We understand that refund requests may arise in exceptional circumstances. While donations are generally non-refundable, we are committed to addressing legitimate concerns with fairness and transparency.

Thank you for your trust in Mahima Ministries. Every contribution, big or small, directly impacts the lives of vulnerable children, elderly, and communities we serve across Telangana.