Join Us
  • Attend a Weekly Meeting
  • Help with a Project
  • Volunteer at Shramdaan
  • Help Fundraise
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All discussions regarding projects that we support, fund raising and other aspects of running AID Columbus happen during our weekly meetings. Anyone is free to attend so please stop by! Our meetings are held on:

Wednesday's from 6-7 pm
Wiseman Hall, Room 459
400 W 12th Ave, Columbus OH 43210

(Please check the calendar for any changes)
AID has a central database that contains projects submitted by NGOs throughout India. These projects are from different categories such as education, women's empowerment, environment, etc. Implementation of these projects span from a few months to many years. Every year, volunteers from each chapter select the projects, go through a detailed review of the NGO and the project details followed by a voting.
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AID Columbus encourages and welcomes any volunteers to get involved in this process so a wide variety of projects can be supported.
Review a project
Each year, volunteers go through projects and short list the ones that they feel meets the criteria of Columbus chapter and AID in general. A small presentation of the project is done and selected projects go through a thorough review. Questions raised about project details are sent to the respective NGO and clarified. Finally, volunteers who participate in this process vote to fund a project.
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Our volunteers actively interact with the NGOs to gather information about the solicited projects. NGOs are evaluated based on their mission and vision, project planning and development skills, the quality of implemented projects and their credibility and commitment to communities they represent.
Individual Projects, on the other hand are evaluated based on the nature and scope of the proposed developmental activity, the need and its feasibility in the community.
Coordinate a Project
Proposals that are approved by a majority vote are assigned to a team lead by a Project Coordinator. It is the sole responsibility of the Project Coordinator and their team to ensure successful implementation of the project as well as rigorously evaluate and monitor the progress of the projects funded by AID.
Make a Site visit
In order to evaluate the projects we support, periodically AID volunteers do site visits during their visit to India. This involves visiting the project sites, assess the progress of the projects and submit a site visit report when they are back in USA. It would help understand how a project is implemented, any problems, and any improvements needed. This is another way you can get involved by visiting an on-going AID Columbus project while you are in India.
Shramdaan, translating to “donation of labor” in Hindi​, is AID Columbus' primary mode of fundraising and community involvement. 

Shramdaan is a high energy and fantastic way to get involved in the Buckeye action. Through working in the concessions stands during OSU football games, volunteers prepare, stock and sell food to the spectators all the while engaging in teamwork and forging connections along the way. We would be glad to have you as a part of our team!

If you are interested in joining, please contact us.​
Fundraising is an essential factor in running AID, which reviews developmental projects for India and funds potential projects. Active members of AID at Columbus chapter come with different innovative ideas to generate the large sum required to support the projects back in India.

If you are interested in attending a fundraising event check out our Events & Calendar page for upcoming events. If you are interested in contributing to the fundraising efforts, please attend a weekly meeting.