Donation Policy

Last Updated: March 2026

1. About Donations

Thiru Murugan Samajam Trust (TMST) is a registered charitable and religious trust founded in December 2006, dedicated to Lord Murugan and to serving the spiritual, cultural, educational, and social needs of the community in Vasai West, Maharashtra.

All donations made to TMST, whether online through vasaivasaithirumurugansamajam.in or offline at the temple premises, are voluntary, irrevocable, and made as acts of devotion and generosity. Donations do not constitute a purchase of goods or services. Once a donation is made and successfully processed, it is considered a completed contribution to the Trust.

2. Donation Purposes

Donors may contribute to any of the following purposes. If no specific purpose is selected, the donation will be applied to the General Trust Fund at the discretion of the Trust administration.

General Trust Fund: Supports the overall operations, maintenance, and activities of the Trust and temple, including utilities, staff, daily poojas, and administrative expenses.
Annadhanam (Food Offering): Funds the preparation and distribution of free meals to devotees and visitors at the temple, upholding the sacred tradition of feeding the community.
Pooja & Seva Sponsorship: Enables devotees to sponsor specific poojas, abhishekams, archanas, and other religious services performed at the temple on their behalf or in the name of their family.
Rajagopuram Construction: Contributes to the construction and completion of the temple’s Rajagopuram (main entrance tower), a significant architectural and spiritual milestone for the temple.
Festival Sponsorship: Supports the celebration of major festivals such as Thaipusam, Panguni Uthiram, Skanda Sashti, Aadi Krithigai, and other annual observances.
Community Service: Funds educational programmes, cultural events, social welfare initiatives, and community outreach activities conducted by the Trust.

3. 80G Tax Exemption

Donations to Thiru Murugan Samajam Trust may be eligible for tax deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961, subject to the following conditions:

PAN Requirement: Donors must provide a valid Permanent Account Number (PAN) at the time of donation to receive an 80G tax exemption receipt. Without a valid PAN, an 80G receipt cannot be issued.
Receipt Issuance: 80G tax exemption receipts will be issued within 30 days of the donation being received and verified. Receipts will be sent to the email address provided by the donor.
Donor Responsibility: Donors are responsible for verifying their eligibility for tax deductions with their tax advisor. TMST provides the receipt but does not offer tax advice.
Cash Donations: As per Income Tax rules, 80G deduction for cash donations is available only for amounts up to Rs. 2,000. Cash donations exceeding Rs. 2,000 must be made through banking channels (cheque, bank transfer, UPI, or online payment) to qualify for 80G deduction.

4. FCRA (Foreign Contribution) Note

Thiru Murugan Samajam Trust currently does not hold FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) registration. As a result, TMST cannot accept donations from foreign nationals, foreign entities, or from bank accounts held outside India.

Donations are accepted only from:

Indian citizens residing in India
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who make donations through their Indian bank accounts (NRE/NRO accounts held in Indian banks)

Any donations received from foreign sources in violation of FCRA regulations will be returned to the donor. TMST will update this policy if and when FCRA registration is obtained in the future.

5. Anonymous Donations

TMST accepts anonymous donations. However, please note:

Anonymous donors will not receive an 80G tax exemption receipt, as PAN and donor identification are mandatory for issuing such receipts.
Anonymous donations will be credited to the General Trust Fund unless a specific purpose is indicated.
TMST maintains records of all donations, including anonymous ones, as required by applicable laws and regulations.

6. Minimum Donation Amounts

There is no minimum donation amount for general contributions to the Trust. Donors may contribute any amount they wish.

For specific pooja or seva sponsorships, minimum donation amounts may apply based on the type of service. These amounts are listed on the Pooja & Seva page. The Trust reserves the right to update these amounts from time to time.

7. Payment Methods

TMST accepts donations through the following payment methods:

Online Payment Gateway (Razorpay): Credit cards, debit cards, net banking, UPI, and digital wallets through our secure payment partner Razorpay.
Bank Transfer (NEFT/RTGS/IMPS): Direct bank transfer to the Trust’s designated bank account. Bank details are available on the Donate page.
UPI: Direct UPI transfer to the Trust’s registered UPI ID.
Cash: Cash donations are accepted at the temple premises during temple hours. A physical receipt will be issued for cash donations.

All online payment processing is handled by Razorpay Software Private Limited, a PCI DSS-compliant payment gateway. TMST does not store complete payment card information on its servers.

8. Use of Funds

TMST is committed to utilising all donations responsibly and transparently:

Designated Donations: Funds donated for a specific purpose (e.g., Annadhanam, Rajagopuram Construction) will be used solely for that designated purpose.
General Donations: Funds donated without a specific designation will be allocated at the discretion of the Trust administration towards the most pressing needs of the Trust and temple.
Accountability: The Trust maintains proper books of accounts, which are audited annually as required by law. The Trust is governed by the Indian Trusts Act and the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950.

9. Donor Privacy

TMST respects the privacy of all donors. Personal and financial information provided during the donation process is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Key commitments include:

Donor information will not be sold, traded, or shared with third parties for marketing purposes.
Donor details are shared only with payment processors (Razorpay) for transaction processing and with auditors/tax authorities as required by law.
Donors who opt in may receive updates about temple events and activities. Donors may opt out at any time.

10. Refund Policy

Donations are generally non-refundable. For information on exceptions and the refund process for erroneous or duplicate transactions, please refer to our Refund & Cancellation Policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Donation Policy, need assistance with a donation, or wish to discuss a specific contribution, please contact us:

Thiru Murugan Samajam Trust
Suncity, Vasaigass Road (100ft Road),
Vasai West, Palghar – 401202,
Maharashtra, India

Phone: 099872 41605

Website: vasaivasaithirumurugansamajam.in